Competence Assessment to Stand Trial For Defendants With Mental Retardation (CAST*MR)

Ages: Adults & Adolescents. Time: 34-40 mins.
  • Pioneering forensic instrument
  • Widely-Used in courts throughout USA
  • Committed authors who have made a difference
The CAST*MR is a standardized instrument for forensic evaluators to assess the competence of persons with mental retardation to stand trial. Based on criteria in the case of Dusky vs United States, the CAST*MR has separate sections for Basic Legal Concepts, Skills to Assist Defense, and Understanding of Case Events. The examiner reads each question aloud and records the client's response in a booklet. There is a reusable Subject Form that allows the client to follow along as the examiner reads the question. Reliability estimated at .92 (internal); .90 test-retest. Interscorer reliability in Part III estimated at 80% and at 90%. A panel of expert criminal disability lawyers rated the items and the format favorably. The CAST*MR was favorably reviewed by Deborah K. Cooper, Ph.D. and Thomas Grisso, Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 15, 347-364 (1997). The instrument has been used in many forensic assessments.


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Order Form (pdf)
Order Form (word)
International Order Form Attachment (pdf)
International Order Form Attachment (word)


References

Conley, R. W., Luckasson, R., & Bouthilet, G. N. (Eds.), The criminal justice system and mental retardation: Defendants and victims. Baltimore: Paul Brookes.

Cooper, D.K., & Grisso, T. 91997). Five year research update: Evaluations for competence to stand trial. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 15, 347-364.

Dusky v. United States, 362, US 402 (1960).

Ellis, J.W., & Luckasson, R. (1988). Mentally retarded criminal defendants. The George Washington Law Review, 53, 414-493.

Everington, C., & Keyes, D. W. (1999). Mental retardation: Diagnosing mental retardation in criminal proceedings: The critical importance of documenting adaptive behavior. Forensic Examiner, 8, 31-34.

Everington, C. (1989). Demographic variables associated with competence to stand trial and evaluation of criminal defendants with mental retardation. Journal of Psychiatry and Law, 627-640.

Everington, C. (1990). The competence assessment for standing trial for defendants with mental retardation (CAST-MR): A validation study. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 17, 147-168.

Everington, C. (1995). A second validation study of the competence assessment for standing trial for defendants with mental retardation. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 22, 44-59.



About the Authors

Caroline Everington, Ph.D., is Associate Dean and Professor, College of Education, Winthrop University.
Ruth A. Luckasson, J.D., is Regents' Professor and Professor of Special Education, University of New Mexico, and a recent past President of the American Association on Mental Retardation