An analysis of demographic variables in adolescent defendants evaluated in a forensic psychiatry clinic.

The Forensic Psychiatry Clinic is located at the Criminal Courts Building in Manhattan. It serves two agencies: the New York Criminal Court and the New York State Supreme Court. 4000 persons are evaluated annually at the Clinic. Approximately twenty-seven per cent of this group (108S individuals) were seen in the New York State Supreme Court section of the Clinic in 1974. Five major services are provided by the Forensic Psychiatry Clinic to the Courts and to the Department of Probation. First, the Clinic evaluates defendants as to their "fitness to proceed" (F.T.P.) to trial. These defendants are individuals who are referred to the Forensic Psychiatry Clinic at the recommendation of the Court, their own defense attorneys, or the district attorney prosecuting the case. In F.T.P. cases, alleged offenders are assessed as to whether, as a result of mental defect or mental disease, they lack the capacity to understand the charges against them, the capacity to understand the nature of the Court proceedings, and the ability to assist in their own defense. Second, the Clinic provides detailed general psychiatric and psychological evaluations of defendants. Adolescents who have a history of psychiatric illness or those persons who have committed or are alleged to have committed a bizarre offense are referred for psychiatric evaluation. These evaluations are for use at the "Pre-Pleading Investigation" (P.P.I.), "Before Sentence" (B.S.) and "After Sentence" (A.S.) phases of a trial. The third major service the Clinic provides is to act as a referral agency for the Department of Probation. Placement of persons on probation in appropriate guidance and treatment facilities is thus expedited. Fourth, the Clinic conducts an interdisciplinary weekly training seminar on issues pertinent to the fields of psychiatry and law. Sessions are attended by persons from the