Solving Crime With Forensic Psychiatry

By Robert McDonald


Psychiatry and psychology have always been popular majors. When it comes to forensic psychiatry, interest is more limited. As a sub-specialty, it is a subsection of psychiatry involved with criminology. Psychiatry looks at the evolution and condition of the mind. Whereas, this aspect combines the legal and medical ramifications of a crime. By combining these two fields, these psychiatrists can often determine a number of facts related to a crime or crime scene.

Psychiatrists working in this field provide psychological testing for suspects. These individuals also work to help solve crimes whether by visiting a crime scene or interviewing family members and witnesses. A few good shows to watch to learn more about this work are Criminal Minds, network television, or Dexter on Home Box Office (HBO, ) cable television.

While some of these individuals work primarily as police psychiatrists, others work in the courts. When an individual working in the court finds a suspect incompetent to stand trial, the individual is often placed in treatment. After which, a secondary evaluation will follow. If found competent, then most likely a trial will be set for a later time.

Providing insight on whether a suspect could have committed a crime is another aspect of this work. After which, the expert witness may be asked to assist in sentencing. Whether the sentence be jail, prison or time at a mental institution, the decision is ultimately left to judge and jury. If the suspect is found competent, then most likely a trial will follow.

Whether giving the detailed opinion a specific topic, or the suspect, this work is important to all seeking a fair trial. Once having reviewed the report, the judge and jury are the final say as to whether or not a trial is scheduled. In most cases, unless an individual is proven to have a severe mental illness, a trial will be scheduled.

When a judge or jury can not understand the facts of a case, then the expert witness is often called to testify. In testifying, these individuals are asked to form an opinion based solely on facts known to date. During testimony, the individual must also state the methods, concepts and approaches used to determine an opinion.

As stated, this is only an opinion as to whether not the the individual understood an action or actions at the time the crime was committed. Different states have different laws governing the use of expert witnesses. In most cases, if a person is found incompetent to stand trial, jail sentences will either be shortened or eliminated.

A great deal of this type psychiatry is based on court rulings which prove significant to a specific crime or court case. Three standards are often used on all cases, all of which are related to mental illness. Whether having not realized a crime was committed, committing the crime due to a mental disorder or due to a lack of understanding of the law governing such crime.




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