PSYC 379 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Insanity Defense, Intellectual Disability, Mental Disorder
16 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
After last week"s discussion of mental health issues in the justice system, we will consider another way in which psychologists" mental health expertise is put to good use in court. Mental health issues can have a bearing on issues of competency to stand trial as well as criminal responsibility. Defendants must have the capacity to participate in their own trial as well as to appreciate that their behaviour was wrong. Mental health issues can impact these capacities in a number of different ways that clinical forensic psychologists may be asked to comment on. This week"s readings provide an overview of each of the topics. The criminal responsibility reading covers the cognitive and volitional prongs of an insanity defence as well as the concepts of diminished capacity and intoxication. The competency reading speaks more to the process of evaluation itself, including ways of approaching competency and possible tools for evaluation.
