tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post4462508267491066143..comments2024-03-25T02:53:26.373-04:00Comments on Women in Crime Ink: Who's Crazy? And Should the Jury Be Told?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-15990441728108251372009-09-19T04:48:06.438-04:002009-09-19T04:48:06.438-04:00PS: This topic is the subject of my forthcoming b...PS: This topic is the subject of my forthcoming book. Hence, as you are all brilliant and opinionated, I'm going to quote you all. Hey, more free publicity can't hurt!Burl Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00246104277722164642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-20447122779149364532009-09-17T16:37:32.927-04:002009-09-17T16:37:32.927-04:00The whole concept of knowing right from wrong as t...The whole concept of knowing right from wrong as the standard by which sanity is determined has at least one incredibly obvious flaw: Some defendants know killing is wrong but say God is telling them to do it. They know it is “wrong” by society’s standards, but they are behaving in conformity with, they firmly and honestly believe, a higher standard – the Will of God. They honestly believe what they did was morally “right” because they were acting righteously on behalf of God.<br />The way that the criminal codes in many states define legal responsibility have to do with whether or not she knew what she did was "wrong."<br /><br />This is a very difficult standard to meet, or explain. It grows out of a 19th century understanding of the mind, and was crafted in an era in which doctors did not know even the vaguest things about the nature of mental illness.They didn’t know much about any illness back then,they knew nothing about bacteria, and it never even occurred to them to wash their hands before performing an operation. Medicine has progressed since that time. And we now understand that one's suffering from mental illness, and even profound mental illness, such as psychosis, often leaves one unable to control her acts, even though she understands that they are wrong.”<br />In a majority of cases, dangerous or violent behavior exhibited by persons with brain disorders is the result of neglect, and inappropriate, or insufficient treatment, of their illness. <br /><br />Most prisons offer no comprehensive treatment for the mentally ill. No jury can make an informed decision without full disclosure of all information. <br />In the case docuemented in my forthcoming book, the defense attorney was not allowed to mention the client's mental illness...yet it was the ONLY reason the crime was committed. Now THAT is crazy!Burl Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00246104277722164642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-19867112540683910972009-09-17T00:20:02.597-04:002009-09-17T00:20:02.597-04:00If someone who is sociopathic or narcissistic comm...If someone who is sociopathic or narcissistic commits a violent crime, it doesn't matter what their condition is - not as far as guilt or incarceration are concerned. People who care so little for others and are willing to act on that are dangerous, and I don't think they can be helped to find the piece that is missing from their personalities. They know what they do is wrong and just don't care. Society needs to be protected from such people. There is something severely wrong with a mother who can kill her own children without a care. That's sad, but it doesn't let her off the hook.Janhttp://griefsjourney.facesofthemissing.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-53129215176019220002009-09-16T18:18:45.459-04:002009-09-16T18:18:45.459-04:00As a person with a mental illness (severe clinical...As a person with a mental illness (severe clinical depression) I would want a jury to know about my illness, but only as it pertains to the crime committed. One of the biggest misperceptions that people have is that the clinically depressed person is a danger to other people, when that is not always the case. Many people manifest this type of illness differently. While some may become aggressive and dangerous, there are others that simply withdraw from their surroundings. I am the type that would do the latter. I would want the jury to know about my way of manifesting depression if I were accused of a violent act, which would be totally out of character for me even in a depressive episode.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-26691055264169373372009-09-16T10:54:34.572-04:002009-09-16T10:54:34.572-04:00I can understand why juries cannot know everything...I can understand why juries cannot know everything because certain things shouldn't influence their decision. There are also a lot of things they cannot know that should influence their decision and that is the frustration for me. Particularly when a guilty person goes free because of it.Leahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-2416263661978307962009-09-16T09:53:42.809-04:002009-09-16T09:53:42.809-04:00Sorry, I tend to ramble.
Personality disorders ...Sorry, I tend to ramble. <br /><br />Personality disorders vary, but for the most part I think we all have them in some shape or form. <br /><br />Should judges and juries be made aware of an individuals disorder? I personally can't see what difference it makes as long as the "right or wrong" issue is emphasized.<br /><br />If I were a jury I would want to know as much as I could about the individual that is on trial.Cheryl Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07545585531909841029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-40759398524978219752009-09-16T09:18:32.346-04:002009-09-16T09:18:32.346-04:00Good points, Cheryl. For this post, we looked at a...Good points, Cheryl. For this post, we looked at a very narrow concern: personality disorders, but there are, of course, other circumstances not addressed.Kathryn Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04469242532804571817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316617410436977874.post-32612305343348568852009-09-16T09:04:56.648-04:002009-09-16T09:04:56.648-04:00Oh what fun! I like that the other writers joined ...Oh what fun! I like that the other writers joined in!<br /><br />"Personality disorders & mental illness" pertain to so many people and I think the judge and jury should be made aware of this. I do not think it should be THE deciding factor of guilt or innocence though. These people usually know the difference between right and wrong and should be held accountable for their actions.<br /><br />Insanity, however, is a different story. If someone does not know the difference between right and wrong I feel they should be handled differently.<br /><br />...and lets not forget retardation. I remember reading something a few years back about a retarded/mentally challenged person being convicted and sentenced as if they were the average Joe. They understood the difference between right and wrong...but not the magnitude of what they did. I did not agree with that one.<br /><br />....the severly autistic boy who killed his mother recently isn't going to be charged...I believe they are keeping him institutionalized and thats fine by me.Cheryl Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07545585531909841029noreply@blogger.com