Development and Preliminary Validation of the Mosley Forensic Competency Scale.

The Mosley Forensic Competency Scale (MFCS) is a 21-item true-false questionnaire intended for use as an assessment tool in forensic evaluations of competency to stand trial. Using a cutting score of 17 or higher as reflective of competence, a comparison of MFCS scores with forensic examiner determinations and court decisions pertaining to the competence of 75 prisoners found the new scale to possess excellent predictive validity. Suggestions for further validation studies on the MFCS are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]