Downloads: Juveniles' Competence to Stand Trial - .pdf

Abilities associated with adjudicative competence were assessed among 927 adolescents in juvenile detention facilities and community settings. Adolescents’ abilities were compared to those of 466 young adults in jails and in the community. Participants at four locations across the United States completed a standardized measure of abilities relevant for competence to stand trial (the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool- Criminal Adjudication) as well as a new procedure for assessing psychosocial influences on legal decisions often required of defendants (MacArthur Judgment Evaluation).

The data from this study is interesting as it showed 16 & 17 year olds are identical as adults in understanding the consequences of trials, and the majority of younger teens are competent as well. When reading this study however, note the biased conclusions of the researchers who instead of focusing on the majority of teens with adult levels of competency focus on the minority of young teens who don't have adult levels of competency and used that minority to point a finger at the entire age group.