Civil Committment and the Mentally Ill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Civil Committment and the Mentally Ill - Essay Example In criminal trials, insanity defense refers to the defense plea adopted by the defendant as a plausible argument that exempts them from criminal liability as they were legally insane during the commission of the crime. According to a study quoted in Waterloo Cedar falls Courier about 1% of the defendants, who are charged with a felony use the Insanity Defense in order to evade punishments or any legal repercussion as a result of the crime in the United States. And out of this 1%, only one-fourth of the people are successful in getting exempted from legal trial. After the defendant raises the insanity defense, the judge commits them to a competence examination, in order to check the validity of their claims. These evaluations are carried out in proper medical and psychological facilities and the individual is put through countless tests and the defendant’s social history is assessed. (Greene et.al, 2006, p. 222) Over the years, the insanity defense has attracted a huge amount c riticisms and controversies regarding its applicability and due to lack of development in this area. The most critical aspect that is raised by the insanity defense is the fact that it does not incarcerate dangerous criminals but send them off to a hospital facility, where they are given treatment and eventually frees them.

Media and Privacy - the Massacre That Shocked the World Essay

Media and Privacy - the Massacre That Shocked the World - Essay Example Was transparency maintained in reporting? These are the questions that need to be answered when analyzing the case, apart from these questions, What has been referred to as ‘Massacre at Langdale High’ transpired in Andersonville- a small town in the United States. The case of Langdale High involves two siblings named Jeffrey and Laura. Both of them had a pleasant childhood but soon things started to change. The case informs that the neighbours confirmed that both the siblings were friendly and warm during their childhood. However, in case of Laura, her disposition suddenly changed after her tenth birthday. She became quieter and withdrew herself from communications. The reason was, when she turned ten, she was subjected to sexual harassment by her father periodically. This led to the formation of negative feelings inside her such as embarrassment and resentment. She did not engage in any social activity and isolated herself. She was limited to a close clique, whom she called her friends. She tried opting for drugs, in an attempt to find some solace but to her surprise, Laura found jotting her thought in her diary as more therapeutic and satisfactory. In case of Jeffrey, he was a bright kid and celebrated his father as his superhero. He longed for his attention and wanted to share a close bond with him. He was aware of the fact that his sister was being sexually abused by the father every now and then Laura had complained to him several times, but he did not take any stance on his issue and chose to remain quiet. When Jeffrey turned 13, his family was abandoned by his father. This incident was a milestone in Jeffrey’s life and left him a changed person. He became bitter as a person and fell into glum depression. Weapons and ammunition started to lure him and. Many assumed that his rampage was because of the frustration that he felt. This case informs of Sharyn Lassiter, who was the police and a court reporter at Andersonville Tribune.