Abstract
Objective:
To assess the extent to which clinical and nonclinical variables have been used by mental health professionals in Manitoba to determine fitness to stand trial. Researchers at a forensic setting in another province have suggested that demographic variables account for as much of the variance in predicting the outcome of these assessments as clinical variables.
Method:
These variables were assessed by the examination of 100 fitness assessments conducted at Winnipeg's Forensic Services unit during a 2-year period.
Results:
Contrary to findings reported in Ontario, the variance in fitness evaluations in Manitoba was primarily accounted for by clinical rather than demographic variables.
Conclusion:
Since Manitoba's forensic clinicians were using standardized criteria that were very similar to 1992 Criminal Code revisions of fitness, the findings attest to the usefulness of these criteria.