LAW5 671 - Psychiatry and Criminal Law

This interdisciplinary seminar will examine how the criminal justice system addresses defendants and adult offenders with a mental disorder. Contemporary issues in forensic mental health will be explored, including: adjudicative competency (e.g., competence to stand trial, competence to waive rights); criminal responsibility (e.g., the insanity defense, diminished capacity); capital cases; sex offenders; mental health expert testimony; and mental disorders and violence. Guest lectures will be provided by mental health professionals and legal practitioners. In addition to traditional seminar class sessions, the course will include the observation of live and videotaped forensic mental health evauations conducted by the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy. All students will be required to observe a forensic evaluation and to report on the evaluation to the class.

Credits: 3