Competency to Stand Trial
Introduction:
A competency evaluation focuses on an individual’s current mental health status and abilities. A sanity evaluation focuses on the individual’s state of mind at the time of the crime. It is highly recommended by researchers in this field that evaluations be conducted separately for sanity and competency and that sanity evaluations are not conducted on defendants who are incompetent. For this discussion, respond to the following:
Instructions:
- Describe the process for determining whether a defendant is competent to stand trial.
- Describe both the similarities and differences between competency to stand trial and determining insanity.
Special Instructions:
Create a 1 page essay in APA format according to the instructions above. Use 2 scholarly sources for references. Be sure to utilize in-text citations.
Competency to Stand Trial
In the American justice system, it is imperative that defendants are examined whether they are fit and competent to stand trial. The process ensures that a defendant is offered the right to a fair trial in a court. Fundamental justice ensures that the defendant is able to understand some of the charges that are being levelled against them, improve the ability of the defendant to communicate with their attorney, and appreciate the forms of punishment that may be given (Burt, & Morris, 2015). Whenever a defendant is found to be incompetent or lack capacity in any of the areas,