A comparison of Blacks and Whites Committed for Evaluation of Competency to Stand Trial on Criminal Charges

Abstract

All males referred to the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry for competency evaluation in 1969 were grouped according to race, and differences on demographic variables. Criminal charges, diagnosis, competency finding, and disposition were studied. A subsample of 70 blacks and 70 whites was analyzed for characteristics associated with M M PI administration and for differences in M M PI profile. The results are consistent with previous literature and indicate a tendency to clinically overestimate psychopathology in blacks though there is no supporting evidence for a difference in level of pathology in terms of the more objective M M PI measure. The profound effects of this overestimation on disposition are discussed, and a number of solutions are proposed.