DEPRESSION IN JAILED WOMEN DEFENDANTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR ADJUDICATIVE COMPETENCE

This study examines the relationship between depression, as measured b y four indices, and jailed women defendants' adjudicative competence ( ''competence to stand trial''). Competence was assessed by the MacArth ur Competence Assessment Tool-Criminal Adjudication (MacCAT-CA) in thr ee areas: understanding, reasoning, and appreciation. Depression was n ot significantly correlated with any competence measure. More depresse d women, however, were more likely to feel that they would not be trea ted fairly by the legal system. This finding is consistent with resear ch showing that depressed people tend to have pessimistic perceptions. The rates of depression were far above the rates in the general femal e population, and many of the participants were clinically depressed. In addition, competence generally was negatively correlated with measu res of psychoticism, emotional withdrawal, and general psychopathology . Implications of the results for addressing the mental health needs o f women defendants, and for defense attorneys and forensic clinicians working with them, are discussed.