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Assessment of Fitness to Plead (Capacity to Stand Trial) Pritchard Criteria

Assessment of Fitness to Plead (Capacity to Stand Trial) Pritchard Criteria Introduction To stand trial, the accused should be able to describe his behaviour and whereabouts at the time of the alleged offence, understands what happens in the courtroom and understands the role of the courtroom personnel, instruct his solicitor, distinguish between various pleas and understand the range and nature of verdicts. Pritchard Criteria In the law of England and Wales, fitness to plead is the capacity of a defendant in criminal proceedings to comprehend the course of those proceedings. Its equivalent in the United States and Canada is ‘competence to stand trial.’ If the defendant raises fitness to plead, a judge will decide whether an individual fit to plead, usually following a psychiatric evaluation.  To decide whether a patient is fit to plead, it is important to determine the extent to which the defendant can:  Understand the nature of the charge Understand the difference between pleading gu