Criminal offense, psychiatric diagnosis, and psycholegal opinion: an analysis of 894
pretrial referrals.
J. I. Warren, W. L. Fitch, P. E. Dietz and B. D. Rosenfeld,
Bull. Amer. Acad. Psychiatry & the Law
19(1): 63-9, 1991.
This article presents the results of a study of 894 criminal defendants referred by Virginia courts for
evaluation of competency to stand trial or criminal responsibility. All evaluations were conducted
on an outpatient basis by mental health professionals who had received specialized training in
forensic evaluation. Findings as to the referral questions posed, the criminal offenses charged, and
the clinical diagnoses and psycholegal opinions offered by the evaluators are described. Statistical
analyses demonstrate significant relationships between both diagnosis and criminal charge and the
psycholegal opinion rendered.