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Assessing Adolescent Defendants' Adjudicative Competence

Interrater Reliability and Factor Structure of the Fitness Interview Test–Revised

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Gina M. Vincent

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Ronald Roesch

Simon Fraser University

As a result of changing legal standards, forensic clinicians have a greater likelihood of being faced with the task of assessing adolescents' adjudicative competence. This study examines the reliability and factor structure of the Fitness Interview Test, Revised Edition (FIT-R), in 152 male and female defendants ages 11 to 17. The interrater reliability of items and sections on the FIT-R is good. Most intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for items fall between .60 and .91, and ICCs for section summary scores range from .82 to .91. Consistent with the design of the FIT-R, confirmatory factor analysis supports a three-factor model, which includes understanding and reasoning about legal proceedings, appreciation of the charges and possible consequences of proceedings, and the ability to communicate with counsel. These factors are united by a dominant superordinate factor. Recommendations are made regarding the clinical use of the FIT-R in the assessment of adolescent competency.

Key Words: adjudicative competence • competency to stand trial • fitness to stand trial • juvenile offenders • adolescents

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