Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES)
Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES)
Licensed use of our Competency Assessments for Juveniles and Adults
Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) & Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES)
Licensed use of our Competency Assessments for Juveniles and Adults
Competency to Stand Trial Assessments- Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) & Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES)
The Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) and the Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES) are comprehensive mental competency to stand trial assessment instruments. Subscription access to these competency to stand trial tests is provided to psychologists or psychiatrists only. The Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) and its juvenile counterpart, the Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES), are vital tools for assessing an individual's competence to stand trial. Both are standardized assessments based on the results of hundreds of participants within the adult and juvenile court systems, offering robust and reliable frameworks to evaluate a defendant or juvenile respondent's cognitive and emotional capacity to engage within the court system.
These assessments offer the unique advantage of converting raw scores into level scores, T-scores, and percentiles. This enables an insightful analysis of an individual's skill set, shedding light on their ability to understand court procedures and rationally consult with counsel – fundamental requirements to navigate the judicial process.
These assessments offer the unique advantage of converting raw scores into level scores, T-scores, and percentiles. This enables an insightful analysis of an individual's skill set, shedding light on their ability to understand court procedures and rationally consult with counsel – fundamental requirements to navigate the judicial process.
MCES/J-MCES Access- MCAT Program Subscription Add-on Option
If you have a current competency training program or are interested in starting one, we have the tools and materials ready for you to implement a complete, strong competency to stand trial program. Our base package to the Mental Competency Assessment & Training (MCAT) Program includes access to our training curriculum for either juveniles and/or adults. For those agencies with a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist who possess the necessary mental competency experience or training, you have the ability to add on access to our comprehensive mental competency to stand trial assessments, the Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) and/or the Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES). The MCES and J-MCES are fundamental and necessary instruments when evaluating an individual's competency ability and play a pivotal role in the determination of an individual's progression throughout the program.
MCES/J-MCES Access- Stand Alone Subscription Option
If you regularly conduct competency to stand trial evaluations and/or are operating your own competency restoration program and would find an additional competency instrument to be beneficial to determine juvenile or adult competency, you may utilize the Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) or Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES). This option would work best for those who regularly conduct competency evaluations and would benefit from regular access to these assessment instruments which is provided at discounted prices over the single purchase option.
MCES/J-MCES Access- Stand Alone Single Purchase Option
If you conduct competency to stand trial evaluations and/or are operating your own competency restoration program and would find an additional competency instrument to be beneficial to determine juvenile or adult competency, you may utilize the Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) or Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES). This option would work best for those who conduct competency assessments occasionally and do not need consistent access to these assessment instruments.
Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) and Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES) Technical & Interpretive Manual
Both assessments come with a comprehensive Technical & Interpretive Manual, outlining the target population, potential for telepsychological assessment services, the legal standards and statutes, and other key points such as the four phases of the competency restoration process. The manual offers detailed guidelines for administration, scoring, and interpretation, and provides a detailed explanation of the evaluation procedures, including court-ordered competency evaluations and initial intake baseline program evaluations, phase evaluations, and exit evaluations (if utilizing as part of the subscription-based MCAT Program).
The assessments include open-ended and multiple-choice questions that measure expressive and receptive domains, respectively. Open-ended questions probe the examinee’s expressed knowledge of general law and judicial proceedings, while multiple-choice questions assess their receptive knowledge of these areas. The MCES and J-MCES comprehensively assess an individual's understanding of the legal process, their relationship with their attorney, the nature and severity of their charges, and their behavior and etiquette in the courtroom, among other areas. They also have the flexibility to incorporate optional assessments of personal stress management and anger management, further enriching the findings. The assessments address issues of malingering and assess an individual’s ability to understand and respond to both simple and complex questions. Importantly, they align with the two-pronged test of competency established in Dusky v. United States (1960), assessing an individual's present ability to understand the court proceedings and ability to consult with counsel rather than past or previous ability.
Evaluators are guided to take a holistic view of each individual, reviewing all pertinent collateral information, from criminal charges and cognitive ability to psychiatric history. The assessment results are then bolstered by an extensive interview and assessment of current psychiatric symptoms.
The MCES and J-MCES are invaluable tools for competency to stand trial evaluations, supporting a thorough, professionally responsive, and culturally sensitive approach to assessing an individual's competency to stand trial.
Both assessments come with a comprehensive Technical & Interpretive Manual, outlining the target population, potential for telepsychological assessment services, the legal standards and statutes, and other key points such as the four phases of the competency restoration process. The manual offers detailed guidelines for administration, scoring, and interpretation, and provides a detailed explanation of the evaluation procedures, including court-ordered competency evaluations and initial intake baseline program evaluations, phase evaluations, and exit evaluations (if utilizing as part of the subscription-based MCAT Program).
The assessments include open-ended and multiple-choice questions that measure expressive and receptive domains, respectively. Open-ended questions probe the examinee’s expressed knowledge of general law and judicial proceedings, while multiple-choice questions assess their receptive knowledge of these areas. The MCES and J-MCES comprehensively assess an individual's understanding of the legal process, their relationship with their attorney, the nature and severity of their charges, and their behavior and etiquette in the courtroom, among other areas. They also have the flexibility to incorporate optional assessments of personal stress management and anger management, further enriching the findings. The assessments address issues of malingering and assess an individual’s ability to understand and respond to both simple and complex questions. Importantly, they align with the two-pronged test of competency established in Dusky v. United States (1960), assessing an individual's present ability to understand the court proceedings and ability to consult with counsel rather than past or previous ability.
Evaluators are guided to take a holistic view of each individual, reviewing all pertinent collateral information, from criminal charges and cognitive ability to psychiatric history. The assessment results are then bolstered by an extensive interview and assessment of current psychiatric symptoms.
The MCES and J-MCES are invaluable tools for competency to stand trial evaluations, supporting a thorough, professionally responsive, and culturally sensitive approach to assessing an individual's competency to stand trial.
Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) and Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES) Administration & Scoring Manual
The Administration & Scoring Manual provides clear and concise guidelines for administering the MCES and J-MCES assessments. It elaborates on the specific standardized administration and scoring criteria for each question of the evaluation, ensuring that the assessments are conducted consistently and accurately by all evaluators. The MCES and J-MCES Administration & Scoring Manual is an invaluable tool in conducting accurate and effective mental competency evaluations. Establishing a clear and consistent administration and scoring process helps ensure that these evaluations provide a fair and accurate measure of an individual's ability to participate in their own defense.
Section 1: Attorney Questionnaire - This section focuses on the nature of the defendant-attorney relationship, gathering information from both parties for comparison.
Section 2: Risk Management - This section concentrates on factors that could lead to risk behaviors in the defendant or juvenile respondent.
Section 3: Mental Status Examination (MSE) - The mental state of the respondent is evaluated, including their perception, thought process, and mood.
Section 4: General Legal - This section tests the respondent's understanding of general legal concepts and proceedings that might apply to their case.
Section 5: Crime & Charges - In this section, the respondent's comprehension of their own charges and the general categories of crimes is assessed.
Section 6: Seriousness of Crimes - This section evaluates the respondent's grasp of the severity of their charges or the crimes they've been accused of.
Section 7: Crime Scene & Evidence - This section examines the respondent's understanding of the significance of evidence and the role it plays in their case.
Section 8: Personnel - The respondent's knowledge about the various individuals involved in the judicial process and their respective roles is assessed.
Section 9: Trial Proceedings - This section explores the respondent's comprehension of the court proceedings.
Section 10: Simple & Advanced - This section checks for consistency in the respondent's answers, as well as their ability to respond to questions of varying complexity.
Section 11: Pleas - This section examines the respondent's knowledge about making pleas in court.
Section 12: Rights - The respondent's understanding of their due process rights and their rights when dealing with law enforcement is assessed.
Section 13: Consistency & Malingering - This section looks for signs of consistent responding, suggestibility, and possible malingering.
Section 14: Corrections - This section evaluates the respondent's understanding of the correctional system and possible sentencing options.
Section 15: Behavior & Etiquette - This section assesses the respondent's knowledge of appropriate courtroom behavior and etiquette.
Section 16: Defendant as a Witness - In this section, the respondent's understanding of what it means to testify as a witness in their own case is evaluated.
Section 17: Attorney Consultation - This section assesses the respondent's ability to effectively communicate with their attorney and assist in their own defense.
Section 18: Case Specific - This section evaluates the respondent's understanding of their specific case, including the charges against them, potential evidence, and possible plea deals.
The Administration & Scoring Manual provides clear and concise guidelines for administering the MCES and J-MCES assessments. It elaborates on the specific standardized administration and scoring criteria for each question of the evaluation, ensuring that the assessments are conducted consistently and accurately by all evaluators. The MCES and J-MCES Administration & Scoring Manual is an invaluable tool in conducting accurate and effective mental competency evaluations. Establishing a clear and consistent administration and scoring process helps ensure that these evaluations provide a fair and accurate measure of an individual's ability to participate in their own defense.
Section 1: Attorney Questionnaire - This section focuses on the nature of the defendant-attorney relationship, gathering information from both parties for comparison.
Section 2: Risk Management - This section concentrates on factors that could lead to risk behaviors in the defendant or juvenile respondent.
Section 3: Mental Status Examination (MSE) - The mental state of the respondent is evaluated, including their perception, thought process, and mood.
Section 4: General Legal - This section tests the respondent's understanding of general legal concepts and proceedings that might apply to their case.
Section 5: Crime & Charges - In this section, the respondent's comprehension of their own charges and the general categories of crimes is assessed.
Section 6: Seriousness of Crimes - This section evaluates the respondent's grasp of the severity of their charges or the crimes they've been accused of.
Section 7: Crime Scene & Evidence - This section examines the respondent's understanding of the significance of evidence and the role it plays in their case.
Section 8: Personnel - The respondent's knowledge about the various individuals involved in the judicial process and their respective roles is assessed.
Section 9: Trial Proceedings - This section explores the respondent's comprehension of the court proceedings.
Section 10: Simple & Advanced - This section checks for consistency in the respondent's answers, as well as their ability to respond to questions of varying complexity.
Section 11: Pleas - This section examines the respondent's knowledge about making pleas in court.
Section 12: Rights - The respondent's understanding of their due process rights and their rights when dealing with law enforcement is assessed.
Section 13: Consistency & Malingering - This section looks for signs of consistent responding, suggestibility, and possible malingering.
Section 14: Corrections - This section evaluates the respondent's understanding of the correctional system and possible sentencing options.
Section 15: Behavior & Etiquette - This section assesses the respondent's knowledge of appropriate courtroom behavior and etiquette.
Section 16: Defendant as a Witness - In this section, the respondent's understanding of what it means to testify as a witness in their own case is evaluated.
Section 17: Attorney Consultation - This section assesses the respondent's ability to effectively communicate with their attorney and assist in their own defense.
Section 18: Case Specific - This section evaluates the respondent's understanding of their specific case, including the charges against them, potential evidence, and possible plea deals.
Assessment Process
- Baseline Assessment: Upon entering the MCAT Program, participants are given a baseline assessment using the MCES or J-MCES. This initial evaluation helps determine the individual's current level of competency and identifies areas requiring targeted intervention and support.
- Phase Assessments: After receiving training in each phase, participants are reassessed using the MCES or J-MCES to evaluate their progress in the specific competency area. Successful completion of a phase assessment indicates that the participant has acquired the necessary skills and knowledge in that phase, allowing them to advance to the next phase.
- Final Assessment: Upon completion of all four phases, participants undergo a final comprehensive assessment using the MCES or J-MCES. Successful completion of this assessment indicates that the individual has achieved the necessary level of mental competency to stand trial.
4 Phases of Competency
At the core of the MCAT Program are the four phases of competency, designed to provide a comprehensive and structured approach to assessing and enhancing the mental competency of participants. The MCES and J-MCES assess overall competency standards in addition to monitoring progress made by the participants prior to moving to the next phase.
- Phase 1 -General Legal Knowledge: Participants receive education on basic legal concepts and courtroom procedures, allowing them to better understand the legal process and their role in the proceedings.
- Phase 2 - Tolerating Stress and Behavioral Conduct: The program addresses participants' emotional well-being, teaching them strategies to cope with stress and maintain appropriate behavior during legal proceedings.
- Phase 3 - Working with an Attorney: Participants learn how to effectively communicate and collaborate with their legal counsel, ensuring a strong attorney-client relationship and enabling them to actively contribute to their defense strategy.
- Phase 4 - Ability to Consult with Counsel/Case-Specific: This final phase focuses on enhancing participants' understanding of their specific case, as well as their ability to consult with their attorney on case-related matters.
MCES/J-MCES Access- MCAT Program Subscription Add-on Option
Our subscription-based Mental Competency Assessment & Training (MCAT) Program provides agencies with the training materials and resources needed to independently run a successful competency restoration program. We provide organizations with the tools needed for them to obtain the competency of juveniles and adults involved int he criminal justice system. If you're interested in gaining access to our full curriculum, materials, and competency assessments, contact us!
Take Control of Your Competency Restoration Today!
Ready to take the leap? Embrace the flexibility and autonomy that our subscription-based Mental Competency Assessment & Training (MCAT) Program offers and revolutionize your approach to competency restoration.
Ready to take the leap? Embrace the flexibility and autonomy that our subscription-based Mental Competency Assessment & Training (MCAT) Program offers and revolutionize your approach to competency restoration.
MCES/J-MCES Access- Stand Alone Subscription Option
If you are needing a comprehensive competency assessment to complete competency to stand trial evaluations, assess your clients using the Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (MCES) or Juvenile-Mental Competency Evaluation Scale (J-MCES). Take advantage of this option if you regularly conduct competency evaluations to access the discounted subscription prices over the single purchase option. Please note: before purchasing and completing competency to stand trial assessments, ensure you meet the required licensure and training criteria.
MCES/J-MCES Access- Stand Alone Single Purchase Option
If you do not have the need to gain regular access to the MCES or J-MCES through a subscription, but still complete some competency to stand trial assessments, you may benefit from the Stand Alone Single Purchase Option. This option allows you to purchase individual assessments based on your need to complete court-appointed mental competency to stand trial assessments. Simply click on the "Purchase Now" button, which will direct you to our store page, allowing you to make your purchase with ease.
Before proceeding with the purchase, please ensure that you meet the required licensure and training criteria. This is to guarantee the proper and ethical application of the MCES and J-MCES in your work. By making such critical tools accessible for individual purchase, we aim to support professionals in the field, foster better understanding, and ultimately, ensure fairer and more effective legal proceedings.
Before proceeding with the purchase, please ensure that you meet the required licensure and training criteria. This is to guarantee the proper and ethical application of the MCES and J-MCES in your work. By making such critical tools accessible for individual purchase, we aim to support professionals in the field, foster better understanding, and ultimately, ensure fairer and more effective legal proceedings.
Need a Consultation?
Contact us Today! Learn more about our MCAT Competency Restoration Program and competency to stand trial assessments!
Contact us today to learn more about our MCAT Program and assessments to determine competency to stand trial! Our dedicated team of experienced professionals is eager to assist you in understanding the benefits and tailored support our company offers. At Psychwest, we pride ourselves on delivering personalized, effective solutions. Let us help you explore the MCAT Program and the MCES/J-MCES and how they can make a positive impact on individuals who need assistance in obtaining competency to stand trial.
