Mental health professionals' accuracy in predictions on the probability of unfit defendants' ability of attaining fitness to stand trial was examined. An over-all 78% accuracy in such predictions was found. It is interesting to note that all errors were due to overpredicting individuals' ability to attain fitness. The implications are discussed.
References
1.
Jackson v. Indiana, 1972, 406 U.S. 715.
2.
MonahanJ.The clinical prediction of violent behavior. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1981.
3.
RoeschR.GoldingS.Competency to stand trial. Urbana, IL: Univer. of Illinois, 1980.