Competence to Stand Trial (CST) - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering CST concepts, key cases, assessment instruments, and ethical/legal principles from the lecture notes.

Competence to Stand Trial (CST)

A legal determination that a defendant can understand, participate in, and assist in their defense during current proceedings.

Dusky v. United States (1960)

Established the two-prong standard: present understanding of proceedings and ability to consult with counsel; rational understanding.

Godinez v. Moran (1993)

Supreme Court ruling that a uniform standard applies to all criminal competencies.

Indiana v. Edwards (2008)

Recognized a higher standard for self-representation to preserve courtroom decorum.

Jackson v. Indiana (1972)

Cannot be indefinitely confined or hospitalized for incompetence without due process.

Riggins v. Nevada (1980)

Medication can affect competency; courts must consider its impact on the defendant’s abilities.

Sell v. United States (2003)

Involuntary medication may be used to restore competence if likely to be effective and least intrusive.

MacCAT-CA

MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Criminal Adjudication; 22-item interview assessing Understanding, Reasoning, and Appreciation.

Understanding (MacCAT-CA)

Capacity to comprehend factual information about charges, court procedures, and evidence.

Reasoning (MacCAT-CA)

Ability to weigh options and foresee consequences in legal decisions.

Appreciation (MacCAT-CA)

Awareness of the legal system’s dynamics and potential outcomes affecting one’s case.

ECST-R

Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial-Revised; semi-structured interview with malingering screening.

Consult with Counsel (ECST-R)

ECST-R component assessing the defendant’s perception and collaboration with their attorney.

Factual Understanding (ECST-R)

Knowledge of charges, roles, and the legal process.

Rational Understanding (ECST-R)

Ability to reason about the charges and consequences in a logical way.

Atypical Presentation (ECST-R)

Screening for feigning or unusual, non-typical presentations of symptoms.

CAST-MR

Competence Assessment for Standing Trial for individuals with Intellectual Disability (CAST-MR).

Malingering

Deliberate manufacture or feigning of symptoms to appear incompetent or gain advantage.

Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST)

Defendants who lack current abilities to understand proceedings or assist in defense.

Adjudicative Competence

Ability to understand and participate in courtroom proceedings and provide information to counsel.

Decisional Competence

Ability to make informed choices (pleas, waivers, defenses) in the criminal process.

Adjudicative Competence Components

Understanding charges, court procedures; ability to communicate with attorney; provide relevant case information.

Decisional Competence Components

Capacity to make informed choices about pleas, waivers, defenses; consider consequences.

Plea Bargaining Capacity

Ability to participate in plea negotiations and understand potential outcomes.

Waive Miranda Rights

Understanding and capacity to waive rights to counsel and against self-incrimination.

Waive Counsel

Understanding and capacity to relinquish the right to assistance of counsel.

Waive Jury Trial

Understanding and capacity to waive the right to a jury trial.

Self-Representation

Right to represent oneself in court; does not by itself prove competence.

Be Sentenced (CST context)

Understanding potential penalties and the sentencing process.

Be Executed (CST context)

Understanding potential execution and related legal implications.

GCCT

Georgia Court Competency Test; screening instrument for adjudicative competence.

GCCT-MSH

Revised GCCT emphasizing courtroom behavior and expectations.

CADCOMP

Computer-Assisted Determination of Competency; computer-based screening tool.

CST Screening Test (CST)

22-item sentence completion test; cutoff score around 20 to flag further evaluation.

Pate v. Robinson

Rule that a court must order an evaluation when there is bona fide doubt about competence.

Dylann Roof Case Study

Autism spectrum disorder and self-representation examined in a capital case; complex CST considerations.

Colin Ferguson Case Study

Long Island Rail Road shooter; delusional beliefs; self-representation dynamics.

Amnesia and Competence

Memory loss can complicate CST; does not automatically negate competence; impact on defense strategy matters.

Group for Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP)

Assessment tool used in competency evaluations; informs decision-making.

Juvenile Adjudicative Competence Interview (JACI)

Structured tool for assessing adjudicative competence in juveniles.

Independent Instruments (CAI, FIT-R, IFI)

Semi-structured interview tools used to assess legal competence and related functioning.

FIT-R

Fitness Interview Test—Revised; 16-item, 30–45 minute procedural assessment.

CAI

Competency Assessment Instrument; early semi-structured tool evaluating legal functioning.

IFI

Interdisciplinary Fitness Interview; joint administration by mental health professional and attorney.

MacCAT-CA Components

Understanding, Reasoning, Appreciation—three cognitive domains of CST.

ECST-R Scales (CWC, FAC, RAC, ATP)

CWC: Consult with counsel; FAC: Factual understanding; RAC: Rational understanding; ATP: Atypical presentation/malingering screening.

Restoration of Competence

Process (often via treatment/medication) to restore a defendant’s capacity to stand trial.

Amnesia-Related CST Considerations

Evaluators assess how memory loss affects defense participation and testimony.