Evaluations of juvenile adjudicative competence (AC) are frequently ordered, yet significant gaps remain in the field’s understanding of referred youth. Using a sample of 277 court-ordered evaluations of juvenile AC, this study provides further support for the relationship of age and intelligence with competence, but other factors remain inconsistent. In the current study, developmental immaturity was associated with competence. Youth showed highest rates of deficits in the functional capacities of rational appreciation, ability to assist counsel, and decision-making. Within factual understanding, the highest rates of deficits were seen for the understanding of charges, plea bargains, the trial purpose, and juvenile justice commitment. This study provides the first empirical estimate of the proportion of youth (9%–30%) who demonstrate factual, but not rational understanding, and highlights areas that may be underreported in reports to the court. Implications for evaluations and research are described, including a focus on mental health symptoms and rational appreciation.

对青少年裁判能力 (AC) 的评估经常下令进行，但该领域对转介青少年的理解仍存在重大差距。本研究使用 277 份法院命令对青少年 AC 进行评估的样本，为年龄和智力与能力的关系提供了进一步的支持，但其他因素仍然不一致。在目前的研究中，发育不成熟与能力有关。青年人在理性欣赏、协助咨询和决策的能力方面表现出最高的缺陷率。在事实理解中，在对指控、辩诉交易、审判目的和少年司法承诺的理解方面，赤字率最高。本研究首次对展示事实、但不是理性的理解，并强调在提交给法院的报告中可能漏报的领域。描述了对评估和研究的影响，包括关注心理健康症状和理性欣赏。