Forensics Flashcards
Fitness to plead
If a mental illness prevents a person from understanding the proceeding, instruction from his/her lawyer or understanding the nature of the change then the court may not go ahead with the proceedings
Not guilty by reason of insanity
proven they were unwell at the time of the offence and did not understand the nature and quality of the act or did not know it was wrong.
Demographic characteristics
Similar characteristics in relation to young age, male, never married, low socioeconomic status, unemployment, poor education, achievements, and internal living conditions prior to induction.
Over representation of maori
Cognitive and Social skills
When ability to think clearly and rationally is impaired by mental illness, likelihood of antisocial and offending behaviour increases. But this is complex as not all cognitive and social skills impairment are as result of a mental illness, poor education and boundaries also result of MI poor social interaction
Social disadvantages
More of a risk of victimisation, bullying and gang affiliation, Poor unemployment and fiscal disadvantages often results in client group living in poorer socioeconomic areas where populations may all be in same situation. A serious consideration to recovery and rehabilitation. Sometimes stigma and discrimination forces people back to these areas of acceptance, illness and criminal history client often see recovery as a hopeful opportunity rather than survival
Substance use
common among population and substance use increases risk of violence which increases risk of contact with the justice system and increases risk of societal rejection and increase the risk to more substance use to blot out reality and self- medicate
alos easy access considering the social circles are given to
Definition of a special patient
Someone found not guilty but for reasons of insanity by the courts or has been found probable to have committed a serious, inprionable offence but is unfit to stand trial
Three major barriers to recovery that forensic clients have identified
stigma of being offenders
- having a major mental illness
- cramped and over crowded conditions
what is double stigma, how can we minimise this?
both criminal and mental illness where attitudes are misinformed
ignorant and fearful. not helped by negative media portrayal
this stigma impacts upon self-esteem self-respect and can result in avoidance of trying new things,
community integration and education we often avoid what we fear
