Data on Evaluations as a Foundation for States Rethinking Competency to Stand Trial

Hallie Fader-Towe; Debra A Pinals

doi:10.29158/JAAPL.210108-21

Data on Evaluations as a Foundation for States Rethinking Competency to Stand Trial

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2021 Dec;49(4):540-544. doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.210108-21. Epub 2021 Oct 8.

Authors

Hallie Fader-Towe¹, Debra A Pinals²

Affiliations

¹ Ms. Fader-Towe is a Program Director in the Behavioral Health Division at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York, NY. Dr. Pinals is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Program in Psychiatry, Law and Ethics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and Medical Director of behavioral health and forensic programs for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Ann Arbor, MI. HFader@csg.org.
² Ms. Fader-Towe is a Program Director in the Behavioral Health Division at the Council of State Governments Justice Center, New York, NY. Dr. Pinals is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Program in Psychiatry, Law and Ethics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and Medical Director of behavioral health and forensic programs for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Ann Arbor, MI.

PMID: 34625465
DOI: 10.29158/JAAPL.210108-21

Abstract

Competency to stand trial policies and processes vary significantly across jurisdictions, and, increasingly, state policymakers are looking for ways to improve their efficiency, equity, and effectiveness. This commentary describes the importance of certain data, including the number of evaluations ordered, to inform state policymaking, drawing on the strategies highlighted in a recently released guide for policymakers, Just and Well: Rethinking How States Approach Competency to Stand Trial.

Keywords: competency evaluations; competency to stand trial; state policy.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Humans
Mental Competency*