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Factors that predict murder defendants' competence to stand trial.
Christine Tartaro1, Joshua Duntley2, Stephanie Medvetz2
1Professor of Criminal Justice, Stockton University, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA.
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry
|July 13, 2018
Summary
Defendants with lower IQs and those accused of killing intimate partners or relatives were more likely to be found incompetent to stand trial (CST). More property crime arrests predicted competency.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Criminal Psychology
- Legal Medicine
Background:
- Competency to Stand Trial (CST) is crucial for legal proceedings.
- Understanding factors influencing CST evaluations aids legal and clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify significant factors associated with CST evaluation outcomes.
- To analyze socio-demographic, legal, and clinical predictors of CST in homicide cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 163 homicide case files.
- Examination of factors including IQ, criminal history, and victim relationship.
- Statistical analysis to determine significant associations with CST outcomes.
Main Results:
- Lower IQ scores significantly correlated with being found incompetent to stand trial.
- A higher number of property crime arrests predicted a finding of competent to stand trial.
- Defendants found incompetent were more likely to have killed an intimate partner or relative.
Conclusions:
- IQ, prior property crime arrests, and the nature of the homicide (victim relationship) are significant predictors of CST outcomes.
- These findings can inform forensic evaluations and legal decision-making.
- Further research into these specific factors is warranted.
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