IQ thresholds and influence of the assessor’s professional discipline on fitness to stand trial assessment outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand

• DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2023.2280525
• Publication Date: 2024-01-17T23:45:30Z
• Authors: Joseph A. E. Sakd...; Khan Buchwald; Sabine Visser
• Keywords: Aotearoa

There is considerable variability in fitness to stand trial (FST) findings between assessors, which may potentially influence the courts' decisions for defendants with intellectual disability (ID). This study aims determine of defendant's intelligence quotient (IQ) score and assessor's professional discipline on FST court outcomes ID Aotearoa New Zealand. included 146 who were assessed 2005 2015. Study revealed that psychologists find unfit at a higher IQ than psychiatrists. Notwithstanding, there was general agreement professions regarding trial. Furthermore, did not appear unduly court's decision NZ cases are discussed highlight issues mild moderate previously found fit