Chapter 6: Mental Disorders in the Criminal Courts- Competence and Insanity
- Page ID
- 327731
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 6.1: Chapter Learning Objectives and Overview
- This page explores the relationship between mental disorders and the criminal justice system, emphasizing the differences between competence and insanity regarding legal standards. It covers competency requirements for trial, variations in the insanity defense, and the influence of mental disorders on sentencing. The chapter clarifies that although mental disorders may complicate legal cases, most individuals with these disorders do not engage in criminal behavior.
- 6.2: Competence to Stand Trial
- This page addresses the issue of a defendant's competence to stand trial, particularly illustrated through the case of Jose Veguilla, who suffered from severe dementia. It distinguishes between assessing competence during court proceedings rather than at the time of the crime.
- 6.3: Establishing Competence
- This page emphasizes the importance of competence in the criminal court system, requiring mental health evaluations for defendants with serious concerns about their ability to engage in legal proceedings. It details the competency evaluation process, restoration methods, and specific approaches adopted in Oregon, including therapeutic services and potential alternatives to restoration.
- 6.4: Insanity as a Criminal Defense
- This page examines the insanity defense, discussing how mental disorders affect legal responsibility. It differentiates between mental disorder and legal insanity, explaining that only specific conditions can absolve guilt. Key tests for assessing criminal responsibility include the M’Naghten rule, Irresistible Impulse Test, and Durham Rule, each evaluating a defendant's understanding and control of their actions. The Model Penal Code merges these tests, introducing a broader framework.
- 6.5: Use of the Insanity Defense
- This page examines the challenges and limited success of the insanity defense, utilized by only about 1% of felony defendants with a 25% success rate. It highlights barriers such as rigorous proof requirements, the need for expert evaluations, and mental health stigma. Additionally, it addresses racial disparities, noting that Black and Latinx defendants encounter greater obstacles than their white counterparts. The case of John Hinckley Jr.
- 6.6: Insanity and Criminal Sentencing
- This page discusses the legal challenges faced by individuals with mental disorders, including the severe consequences like the death penalty despite limited defenses available. It highlights the Supreme Court's stance that only those legally insane are exempt from execution.
- 6.7: Chapter Summary
- This page discusses the impact of mental disorders on individuals charged with crimes, focusing on competency to stand trial and the insanity defense. It highlights that defendants may be found incompetent if they cannot work with their attorneys, halting legal proceedings until their competency is restored. The insanity defense is rarely used and often unsuccessful, reflecting potential systemic biases, especially racial ones.
- 6.8: References
- This page analyzes incarceration trends in Oregon, focusing on the evolution of the prison population and the various factors at play, including sentencing laws and crime rates. It underscores the positive effects of policy reforms in lowering incarceration rates for certain demographics while acknowledging ongoing challenges within the justice system.