During the past ten years, the issue of juveniles’ competence to stand trial has become an important and difficult issue for juvenile and criminal courts across the nation.   The MacArthur Foundation has funded recent research on youths’ capacities to participate in their trials, and has supported the development of methods for evaluating youths’ competence to stand trial.  Dr. Grisso (the director of NYSAP) directed those efforts, and the MacArthur Foundation has now included in NYSAP’s activities nationwide assistance to juvenile courts in addressing policy and practice in this area.

NYSAP performs a clearinghouse function regarding the development of state laws nationwide pertaining to juveniles’ competence to stand trial.   State law-makers may obtain consultation from NYSAP when state planning boards intend to draft new legislation for juveniles’ competence to stand trial, or when reviewing their statutes for revisions that will provide for better standards and practices in this area.

NYSAP’s grant with the MacArthur Foundation does not provide training for judges, lawyers or mental health professionals in issues of juveniles’ competence to stand trial.   However, NYSAP can assist juvenile and criminal courts in locating sources of training regarding issues of law, policy and practice in this area. Judges and attorneys often need training in developmental issues related to youths’ capacities to participate in their trials.   Mental health professionals who perform evaluations of youths’ competence to stand trial at the request of courts need training in special methods for assessing youths’ capacities to participate in their trials.  

Click here  to see a guide available for purchase that concerns clinical assessments of juveniles’ competence to stand trial.