4/11/2011

Forensic Psychology in the Judicial System

Forensic psychology is an extremely important part of the justice system in America. If someone is on trial for a vicious crime, they could plead "not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect," and must undergo an exam to see if they are competent to stand trial. Competency to stand trial is necessary to ensure due process, provide equal treatment under the law, and maintain the dignity of legal proceedings. States have their own rules for determining a defendants competency to stand trial. In most cases, defendants must be able to understand the charges against them, understand the facts of his or her case, to tolerate stress while awaiting the trial and at the trial itself, and to refrain from irrational behavior in court. If found to not be able to stand trial, the defendant can be treated with psychiatric medication for up to a year. The charges are not dismissed, but the case gets suspended. If treatment has failed, a defendant can be committed to a treatment program at a psychiatric center until they are deemed appropriate to stand trial.
An example of this very situation is seen in season two of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The witness is suffering from schizophrenia and is given an injection of psychiatric medication that will last for a month so that he can testify at a trial.
This episode can be watched on this link -

http://www.watchsvuonline.net/season2/s02e06.php

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