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An Examination of the Relationship Between Competency to Stand Trial, Competency to Waive Interrogation Rights, and Psychopathology

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Law and Human Behavior

Abstract

This study compared the legal abilities of defendants (N = 212) with current primary psychotic disorders (n = 44), affective disorders (n = 42), substance abuse disorders (n = 54), and no diagnosed major mental illness (n = 72). Defendants with primary psychotic disorders demonstrated more impairment than did other defendants in their understanding of interrogation rights, the nature and object of the proceedings, the possible consequences of proceedings, and their ability to communicate with counsel. Psychosis was of limited value as a predictor however, and high rates of legal impairment were found even in defendants with no diagnosed major mental illness. Sources of within-group variance were examined to further explain this finding. Policy and clinical implications of these results are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    Jodi L. Viljoen (Graduate Student)

  2. Mental Health, Law, and Policy Institute, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    Ronald Roesch

  3. Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York

    Patricia A. Zapf

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  1. Jodi L. Viljoen
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  2. Ronald Roesch
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  3. Patricia A. Zapf
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Viljoen, J.L., Roesch, R. & Zapf, P.A. An Examination of the Relationship Between Competency to Stand Trial, Competency to Waive Interrogation Rights, and Psychopathology. Law Hum Behav 26, 481–506 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020299804821

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