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Published Online: January 1987

Factors Affecting the Decision to Prosecute Mental Patients for Criminal Behavior

Abstract

Several Authors have arged that under certain circumstances it is both necessary and therapeutic to bring criminal charges against psychiatric patients who have committed assaults or manifested other criminal behavior. Others have arged that prosecution may impair thrapeutic alliances and may lead to increased litigation by patients. In this paper the authors present four cases in which patients in the public mental health system were prosecuted, and they discuss factors that affect the decision to pursue prosecution. They argue that both clinicians and legal professionals need specific training to help them recognize the differences between behavior that a patient's illness prevents him from controlling and impulsive behavior, stemming frim character pathology, that can appropriately be addressed by criminal sanctions.

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Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 50 - 55

History

Published in print: January 1987
Published online: 1 April 2006

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Robert D. Miller
Forensic Center of the Mendota Mental Health Institute, 301 Troy Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
Gary J. Maier
Forensic Center of the Mendota Mental Health Institute, 301 Troy Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53704

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