Question 1

There is a basic rule of law that says that those who stand accused of crimes must be able to
understand the charges and proceedings brought against them and be able to participate in
their own defense.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true and is a fundamental principle of the justice system known as the right to a fair trial. It is enshrined in various international human rights treaties and national laws.

Question 2

More people are confined to mental institutions for being incompetent to stand trial than for
being found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Accepted Answer

This is true, as individuals who are deemed incompetent to stand trial - meaning they do not have the mental capacity to understand the charges against them or participate in their own defense - may be confined to mental institutions until they are deemed competent to stand trial. This differs from being found not guilty by reason of insanity, which is a legal defense that applies when the defendant was experiencing a mental illness or defect at the time of the crime, and which can result in institutionalization or other forms of treatment.

Question 3

Discuss the problems the insanity plea creates for jurors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the problems the insanity plea creates...

Question 4

Discuss the history of the legal bases of the insanity plea. Include the "irresistible impulse" and inability to tell if one's actions were "right" or "wrong" in your essay.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the history of the legal bases...

Question 5

Discuss problems in determining the term of commitment for perpetrators who are found insane.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss problems in determining the term of...

Question 6

In 1992, the United States Supreme Court ruled that burden of proof for determining
competence to stand trial lies with the prosecution.

Accepted Answer

In 1992, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case of Drope v. Missouri that the burden of proof for determining competence to stand trial lies with the defendant, not the prosecution.

Question 7

It is possible for a defendant to be held competent to stand trial but still be judged not guilty
of a crime by reason of insanity.

Accepted Answer

Competency to stand trial and insanity at the time of the offense are two separate legal determinations. A defendant can be found competent to stand trial (meaning they have the ability to understand the charges against them and assist in their defense) but if they were legally insane at the time of the offense, they can still be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Question 8

Customary sentences that the law provides for particular crimes have no bearing on criminal
commitment.

Accepted Answer

Customary sentences are not binding on the court and do not have to be followed.

Question 9

People who are found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity may remain confined to a
mental hospital indefinitely-for many years longer than they would have been sentenced to
prison, if they had been found guilty.

Accepted Answer

This is true. When a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity, they are often committed to a mental hospital for treatment. However, unlike a prison sentence which has a set end date, the person may not be released until they are deemed no longer a danger to themselves or others, which could take years or even decades.

Question 10

Compare and contrast the various types of commitment and hospitalization. Explain why
some people are critical of the entire psychiatric hospitalization process and system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the various types of...

Question 11

Summarize the research concerning the problems of psychologists and other professionals
who are given the task of attempting to predict dangerousness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Summarize the research concerning the problems of...

Question 12

Explain the effects of the Tarasoff case on helping professionals' duty to warn third
parties of threats posed by clients.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the effects of the Tarasoff case...

Question 13

Discuss legal developments concerning the right to refuse treatment. Cite the 1979 case, Rogers v. Okin, and details of this case, in your discussion of the issues.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss legal developments concerning the right to...

Question 14

Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz denies the existence of mental illness.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Szasz is known for his belief that mental illness does not truly exist and is instead a myth created by society to justify controlling and labeling individuals. He argues that individuals experiencing mental distress are simply exhibiting unique and understandable responses to life circumstances and should be treated as such, rather than being pathologized and subjected to psychiatric interventions.

Question 15

Discuss legal developments concerning patients' right to treatment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss legal developments concerning patients' right to...

Question 16

Discuss some of the conflicts involved in requiring helping professionals to warn third
parties of threats.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss some of the conflicts involved in...

Question 17

Discuss the "guilty but mentally ill" verdict. Provide details on the controversy surrounding this verdict and assess its effectiveness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the "guilty but mentally ill" verdict....

Question 18

The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that persons acquitted of crimes by reason
of insanity constitute a special class who should be treated differently from civilly committed
individuals.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true as it reflects the ruling made by the Supreme Court in the case of Jones v. United States, 463 U.S. 354 (1983), where it was held that persons acquitted of crimes by reason of insanity cannot be involuntarily committed to mental institutions on a civil basis unless they meet the standards for commitment of the mentally ill. This decision recognized that such individuals have different legal rights and protections than civilly committed individuals.

Question 19

Repeated criminal behavior is not sufficient, by itself, to establish a mental disease or defect
that might relieve an individual of criminal responsibility.

Accepted Answer

To establish a mental disease or defect that could potentially relieve an individual of criminal responsibility, more than just repeated criminal behavior is needed. Other factors such as a diagnosed mental illness or a recognized psychological disorder may need to be present and evaluated by a mental health professional.

Question 20

The insanity defense places special burdens on juries.

Accepted Answer

The insanity defense places special burdens on juries because they must determine whether the defendant at the time of the crime had the required state of mind to be held criminally responsible. This often involves complex medical and psychological evidence and can be difficult for jurors to understand and make a decision on.

Quiz 15: Abnormal Psychology and the Law

There is a basic rule of law that says that those who stand accused of crimes must be able to understand the charges and proceedings brought against them and be able to participate in their own defense.

More people are confined to mental institutions for being incompetent to stand trial than for being found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Discuss the problems the insanity plea creates for jurors.

Discuss the history of the legal bases of the insanity plea. Include the "irresistible impulse" and inability to tell if one's actions were "right" or "wrong" in your essay.

Discuss problems in determining the term of commitment for perpetrators who are found insane.

In 1992, the United States Supreme Court ruled that burden of proof for determining competence to stand trial lies with the prosecution.

It is possible for a defendant to be held competent to stand trial but still be judged not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity.

Customary sentences that the law provides for particular crimes have no bearing on criminal commitment.

People who are found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity may remain confined to a mental hospital indefinitely-for many years longer than they would have been sentenced to prison, if they had been found guilty.

Compare and contrast the various types of commitment and hospitalization. Explain why some people are critical of the entire psychiatric hospitalization process and system.

Summarize the research concerning the problems of psychologists and other professionals who are given the task of attempting to predict dangerousness.

Explain the effects of the Tarasoff case on helping professionals' duty to warn third parties of threats posed by clients.

Discuss legal developments concerning the right to refuse treatment. Cite the 1979 case, Rogers v. Okin, and details of this case, in your discussion of the issues.

Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz denies the existence of mental illness.

Discuss legal developments concerning patients' right to treatment.

Discuss some of the conflicts involved in requiring helping professionals to warn third parties of threats.

Discuss the "guilty but mentally ill" verdict. Provide details on the controversy surrounding this verdict and assess its effectiveness.

The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that persons acquitted of crimes by reason of insanity constitute a special class who should be treated differently from civilly committed individuals.

Repeated criminal behavior is not sufficient, by itself, to establish a mental disease or defect that might relieve an individual of criminal responsibility.

The insanity defense places special burdens on juries.