Psychology 2032A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Insanity Defense, Stanford Prison Experiment, Actus Reus

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2032A/B
• Professor: John Campbell

Document Summary

Presumptions in canada"s legal system: elements that must be present for criminal guilt, actus reus: wrongful deed, mens rea: criminal intent, must be found beyond a reasonable doubt for a guilty verdict to be reached. Case: r v. prichard (1836: fitness standard, whether the defendant is mute of malice (= intentionality, whether the defendant can plead to the indictment, whether the defendant has sufficient cognitive capacity to understand proceedings. Fitness standard: unfit to stand trial if unable to, understand the nature or object of proceedings, understand possible consequences of the proceedings, communicate with counsel. Fitness standard changes: r v. taylor (1992) specified the best interest rule was too strict a criterion, 5-day limit for fitness evaluations with provisions, if necessary. Issue of fitness may be raised at various stages of the proceedings. Fitness instruments: fitness interview test revised (fit-r, competency screening test (cst, competency to stand trial assessment instrument (cai, macarthur competence assessment tool-criminal adjudication.