The following list of criminal competencies is a listing of the various types of competencies relevant to the defendant in criminal law in the United States. In the U.S. the law is permeated with competency issues since a state may not subject an individual who is "incompetent" to trial on criminal charges. In insisting on this requirement the law is acting on the premise that society recognizes only the actions of an autonomous individual. Following is a list of the most relevant competencies that must be evaluated (if a question of incompetency is raised) to proceed.
| Competency | Court Case Related to Competency |
| Competency to Consent to a Search or Seizure | Mapp vs. Ohio
Katz vs. United States
Florida vs. Rodriguez |
| Competency to Stand Trial | Dusky vs. United States
Panetti vs. Quarterman |
| Competency to Waive Right to Competency | United States vs. Morin |
| Competency to Consent to a Search or Seizure | Fourth Amendment |
| Competency to Confess | Brown vs. Mississippi
Miranda vs. Arizona
Colorado vs. Connelly |
| Competency to Plead Guilty | Seiling vs. Eyman
Godinez vs. Moran
Godinez, Warden vs. Moran |
| Competency to Waive the Right to Counsel | Godinez vs. Moran, McKaskle vs. Wiggins, Faretta vs. California |
| Competency to Refuse an Insanity Defense | Whalem vs. United States, Frendak vs. United States |
| Competency to Testify | |
| Legal Requirements for Testimonial Competence | Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 601 |
| Assessment of Witness Credibility | Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 508 |
| Competency to Be Sentenced and Executed | Saddler vs. United States |
| Competency at the Sentencing Proceedings | Chavez vs. United States |
| Competency to Be Imprisoned or Executed | Ford vs. Wainwright, Penry vs. Lynaugh |
| Competency to Refuse Treatment | Perry vs. Louisiana |
