On Thursday, July 17, Drs. Thomas Grisso and Kimberly Larson conducted Juvenile Competency Training for Qualified Juvenile Forensic Mental Health Examiners.  Over 140 clinicians were trained on the Juvenile Adjudicative Competence Interview (JACI) and Michigan’s juvenile competency laws.  In accordance with the new law, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) reviewed the curriculum and endorsed the training.

On Friday, July 18, Dr. Larson facilitated Juvenile Competency in Court: Understanding and Applying Michigan’s New Law.  Over 60 attorneys, jurists, court administrators and mental health professionals attended.  The afternoon segment included a panel of Michigan experts, including Defense Attorney Chris Piatkowski, Prosecutor Eric Scott, and Forensic Psychologist Terri Scott. Dr. Grisso’s materials are available for purchase on-line:

• Evaluating Juveniles’ Adjudicative Competence: A Guide for Clinical Practice
• Clinical Evaluations For Juveniles’ Competence To Stand Trial: A Guide For Legal Professionals

Many thanks to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for hosting the trainings and to all of our co-sponsors, including the MDCH, the State Bar of Michigan Children’s Law Section, the Michigan Psychiatric Society, and the Michigan Psychological Association.

RESOURCES

Juvenile Competency Guidebook

To ensure consistent implementation of the new law, the State Bar of Michigan Children’s Law Section, in collaboration with MCCD, authored the Juvenile Competency Manual: A Guide for Legal Professionals.  The manual includes a comprehensive overview of the law, checklists for judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, court forms, sample motions, and resources for additional information.

List of Qualified Forensic Mental Health Examiners

The State Bar of Michigan Children’s Law Section will compile and post a list of qualified examiners.  While this will not be an endorsement nor certification, it will be a resource that courts can access to begin interviewing potential forensic experts. [Available soon.]

Do you have recommendations to improve the juvenile competency laws?

Governor Snyder recently appointed the Mental Health Diversion Council, which, among other things, is charged with monitoring and follow-up of the Michigan juvenile competency laws.  MCCD is providing a memo to the Council with policy recommendations for ongoing improvements.  We encourage you to share your recommendations with us or directly with the Diversion Council.

Want to learn more?

Developing Statues for Competence to Stand Trial in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings: A Guide for Lawmakers
Kimberly Larson, J.D., Ph.D., Thomas Grisso, Ph.D.

Adolescent Legal Competence in Court – Issue Brief
Thomas Grisso, Ph.D., Lawrence Steinberg, Ph.D.

Competency to Stand Trial in Juvenile Court: Recommendations for Policymakers
National Juvenile Justice Network

Restoring Youth: A University-Practitioner Model for Remediating Youth Adjudicated Incompetent to Stand Trial
Regents and Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia

Establishing Juvenile Incompetence Remediation Programs
(Virginia and Florida) Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaborative for Change

Where Two Roads Meet: Restoration of Competence to Stand Trial from a Clinical Perspective
Debra Pinals, M.D.

Posted by MCCD on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 @ 1:21PM
Categories: Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency