Recent research has suggested nationwide increases in the rates of referral for competence to stand trial (CST) evaluations across the United States. Many of these evaluations are for defendants charged only with misdemeanor offenses and for whom diversion programs are most appropriate. The present study was designed to analyze the characteristics of, and re-arrest outcomes for, defendants charged with misdemeanors ordered to undergo CST evaluations in a large metropolitan area. Overall, there was a high base rate of incompetent to stand trial (IST) opinions (over 70% of defendants) in this sample, with the greatest impairments in rational understanding and ability to assist counsel. Defendants opined IST were more likely to have a psychotic disorder, a history of psychiatric hospitalization, and greater abnormalities in thought content relative to their competent counterparts. Of concern, defendants opined IST, and especially those referred for crisis evaluations upon dismissal of the charges, were significantly more likely to be re-arrested than their counterparts. These data support the criminalization hypothesis, suggesting that criminal justice involvement for this subset of defendants inappropriately reflects psychiatric instability, supporting the need for more options for inpatient and outpatient treatment to effectively intervene in this process. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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被指控犯有轻罪的被告的特征和结果被提交法院命令的能力评估。

最近的研究表明，全美范围内的受审能力 (CST) 评估转介率在全国范围内有所提高。其中许多评估是针对仅被指控犯有轻罪并且最适合进行转移计划的被告。本研究旨在分析被指控犯有轻罪的被告在大都市地区接受 CST 评估的特征和再逮捕结果。总体而言，在该样本中，无法接受审判 (IST) 意见的基本比率很高（超过 70% 的被告），理性理解和协助律师的能力受损最大。被告认为 IST 更有可能患有精神病、精神病住院史、相对于他们的主管同行，思想内容的异常更大。令人担忧的是，被告认为 IST，尤其是那些在驳回指控后被转介进行危机评估的人，比他们的同行更有可能再次被捕。这些数据支持刑事定罪假设，表明这部分被告的刑事司法参与不恰当地反映了精神不稳定，支持需要更多的住院和门诊治疗选择以有效干预这一过程。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2022 APA，保留所有权利）。这些数据支持刑事定罪假设，表明这部分被告的刑事司法参与不恰当地反映了精神不稳定，支持需要更多的住院和门诊治疗选择以有效干预这一过程。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2022 APA，保留所有权利）。这些数据支持刑事定罪假设，表明这部分被告的刑事司法参与不恰当地反映了精神不稳定，支持需要更多的住院和门诊治疗选择以有效干预这一过程。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2022 APA，保留所有权利）。