Watt Bruce D, O'Leary Jodie, O'Toole Suzie
School of Psychology, Bond University, Queensland, Australia.
Faculty of Law, Bond University, Queensland, Australia.
Psychiatr Psychol Law. 2016 Aug 31;24(2):191-204. doi: 10.1080/13218719.2016.1220036. eCollection 2017.
Fitness to stand trial is a necessary requisite for a fair trial in judicial proceedings. Research within Australia is limited regarding juvenile fitness for trial, though recent evidence indicates that juvenile offenders are half as likely to be found unfit to stand trial compared to adult offenders. The study surveys lawyers ( = 20) and youth justice workers ( = 20) about their experiences with juveniles in the Queensland youth justice system. Over the preceding 12 months, 133 juveniles were identified as potentially unfit. Intellectual impairment (37%), immaturity (28%), and mental illness (26%) were the most prevalent conditions. Indigenous Australians were rarely referred for mental health evaluation. In comparison, juveniles (mostly non-indigenous) with mental illness and intellectual impairment were significantly more likely to be referred for evaluation. Pragmatic and tactical reasons were most frequently given for non-referral to the Queensland Mental Health Court, which at the time decided fitness.
接受审判的适格性是司法程序中公平审判的必要条件。澳大利亚国内关于青少年接受审判的适格性的研究有限，不过最近的证据表明，与成年罪犯相比，青少年罪犯被认定不适合接受审判的可能性只有成年罪犯的一半。该研究调查了20名律师和20名青少年司法工作者，了解他们在昆士兰青少年司法系统中与青少年打交道的经历。在过去12个月里，有133名青少年被认定可能不适合接受审判。智力障碍（37%）、不成熟（28%）和精神疾病（26%）是最常见的情况。澳大利亚原住民很少被转介进行心理健康评估。相比之下，患有精神疾病和智力障碍的青少年（大多是非原住民）被转介进行评估的可能性要大得多。不将案件提交当时负责判定适格性的昆士兰心理健康法庭的最常见原因是务实和策略性的。
