The Insanity of the Temporary Insanity Defense Essay

Not Guilty, By reason of Insanity! These words have stung the ears of many courtroom observers, especially the families and friends of victims whose lives were snuffed out by a so-called insane assailant. While there are indeed many insane people running around the streets today, I feel that many persons who use the temporary insanity defense are more conniving than insane. Also, being an inexact science, the psychiatric community often offers up differing opinions as to any particular individuals sanity. Furthermore, money or lack thereof can play a major role in the success or failure of an insanity defense. The temporary insanity defense should therefore be abolished, especially for felony offenses such as murder. What†¦show more content†¦Below are listed some of the defenses that have received a great deal of media attention over the past few years. First, Roid Rage is characterized by severe mood swings related to steroid use. This defense lessened the sentence of 19 year-old Troy Gentzler, who admitted throwing rocks at cars on the highway injuring several people. Secondly, Black Rage is defined at racial prejudice-induced insanity. Lawyers for Colin Ferguson, the black man who killed five white people and one Asian-American and wounded nineteen others on a Long Island railroad wanted to use this plea but Ferguson decided to mount his own defense. Next, theres Urban Survival Syndrome which is described as the fear that inner-city black people have of other black people. A Fort Worth jury ended up deadlock in the case of 19 year-old Daimion Osby, a black man who shot two other unarmed black men in a parking lot. The so-called Meek-make Syndrome is the psychological emasculation of the man by his spouse. By using this defense, a man in Los Angeles had the charge of murder reduced to voluntary manslaughter in the death-by-beating (with a wrench) of his wife. His lawyers claimed that she had destroyed his self-esteem by calling him nam es and forcing him to sleep on the floor. Fetal Trimethadione Syndrome, the result of a mothers use of epilepsy medication during pregnancy, was the defense offered by the lawyers of a 14 year-old boy who beat to death another 14 year-old boy. TheShow MoreRelatedThe Insanity Plea For Pleading Insane1616 Words   |  7 PagesOver the years the abuse of insanity plea, has troubled our American Justice System in our world today. The growth in this defense has increased so much that the expansion has asked the question; whether or not insanity plea is a worthy and justified defense to be used in the courts. The Insanity defense is when a criminal defendant can be found to have been legally insane when that defendant committed the crime they did at the time. In some cases, the criminal defendant pleads insane and gets aRead MoreThe Defense Of The Insanity Defense1342 Words   |  6 PagesThe insanity defense is the most controversial criminal defense that is used in courts (The Insan ity). Ironically, it is the defense that is used the least. According to a professor of law at Santa Clara University, Professor Alexander, the plea is only used one percent of the time, and works less than half the time it is used (Steibel). In cases where it is used, it tends to get a lot of attention from the media which provokes debate from the public (The Insanity). Critics have reservations concerningRead MoreForensic Psychology Essay985 Words   |  4 Pagesis the insanity defense used and how successful is it? I would like to answer this question, with the presentation of my opinion and the performed research. It is within my opinion, that the insanity defense is used over excessively and is taking part in almost every defense to any crime. Offenders seem to have the knowledge to the use of this defense and will often provide a plea to guilty by insanity or temporary insanity, within the faith, to receive a reduced sentence. While insanity has toRead MoreInsanity As a Legitimate Defense in the Court of Law924 Words   |  4 PagesIs the insanity defense a legitimate defense? The insanity defense is perhaps the most difficult defense for members of the lay public to comprehend. On one hand, when a serial killer commits a string of horrific murders, he or she seems to fit any conceivable definition of being certifiably insane, but not all serial killers are found not guilty by virtue of their insanity. On the other hand, many members of the public think the insanity defense itself is absurd and merely an excuse used by cunningRead MoreCriminal Law And The Insanity Defense1771 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Criminal law the insanity defense Introduction In the United States, one of the defenses available to criminal defendants in most states is not guilty by reason of insanity. The availability of that defense is subject to state law, ever since a 1994 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the decision of individual states to abolish that defense (Martin, 1998; Schmalleger, 2009, p. 146). In principle, there is a logical or fundamental ethical basis for the philosophy of allowing thoseRead MoreNot Guilty by Reason of Insanity1673 Words   |  7 PagesNot Guilty By Reason of Insanity? Lori Sheets The insanity defense is a defense by excuse. The defendant argues that they should not be held criminally responsible for breaking the law because they were mentally ill or mentally incompetent at the time of their alleged criminal action. The thought behind this is that someone suffering from a mental disorder is not capable of knowing or choosing right from wrong so they should not be punished. When this is the case, they are pleading not guiltyRead MoreGetting Away with Murder Aaron1464 Words   |  6 Pagesby the judge presiding over the case, is known as the homosexual-panic or gay-panic defense. According to the Harvard Law Review, this defense, a manifestation of the temporary insanity plea, is premised on the theory that a person with latent homosexual tendencies will have an extreme and uncontrollably violent reaction when confronted with a homosexual proposition (Stryker 2). The homosexual panic defense-based on the premise that internal homophobia justifies cold-bloode d murder-is one ofRead MoreThe Insanity Defense By Steven Steinberg1084 Words   |  5 PagesWhile reading chapter 2 of The Insanity Defense we discussed many different versions of the insanity defense and whether or not they’re valid or not. This interested me so much that I decided to actually go online and research the most ‘insane’ ways to use the insanity defense. Within this research I found various cases where it was used and was so shocked at how bizarre almost all of them are that I decided to write a 3-page paper on it, enjoy. The first case I read about brings us all the wayRead MoreInsanity as a Defense871 Words   |  3 PagesIn this article I will consider whether the current claw defence of insanity is ineffective, out-dated and in need of reform. I will do so by contemplating several criticism of the insanity defence arising from the M’Naghten rules . The concept of insanity as a defence was established in the early eighteenth century in the Arnold’s case (1724) and was further developed in the late 18th century in the Hadfield’s case (1800), but the standart test of criminal liability was only formed after the caseRead MoreThe Insanity Plea: History and Implications2382 Words   |  10 Pagesthe insanity plea, a few questions should be kept in mind---1. How can we be sure that a person is indeed insane (he could be putting on a show) and 2. Should a mentally ill person be punished at all. Today in our legal system, there are numerous amounts of defense tactics that are designed to protect the rights of the accused, and to further the process of justice. However, in many cases this augmentation of justice has been taken too far, and as a result, pleas such as â€Å"Temporary insanity† are

The Dark Depths Of Life - 2434 Words

I never knew that my fixed straight path of life will take a huge turn that day. The feelings that overwhelmed my body engraved itself in the inner depths of my mind as days walked pass by. And how much remorse and shame that continues to pile up within my soul; how painful it was to keep it hidden from the world was the past that can never be erased. If I had the power to turn back time and rewrite that whole day, will my life be the same as now? But as I continue to search for my lost one, the feeling of true love can never be conveyed within me ever again. As the sun shone radiantly, the memories of 8 years ago still presented itself in front of my eyes. Why was there rain instead of stars in the sky? Why was this sky covered in†¦show more content†¦I don t! What made you think that? I put on a strong mask to portray the strong rejected No. Their eyes dilated as they sharply stared at the self-confidence body. They grinned directly at me but their gazes soon stopped staring at me. I follow their sight of light; a girl - no... it was Jyotsna, standing with a disbelief face. What have I done? My self-confident composure slowly peeled itself off my bare skin. I retreated and ran into the library. From that day on, I never dared to stared at her. ~*~ Many years passed by, we were both in grade 10. The world dramatically changed from that time. as the sun flashed its warmth like usual, my feelings for Jyotsna suddenly lowered itself down ever since that day. Our classes with each other dropped - there we walked on separate on paths that was parallel to each other. As the light reflects itself into my pupil, a sense of traumatic changes soon crept slowly. As I continued that mundane timetable of mine, the day where my views of the world slowly transformed itself into something else. The day where her existence soon became meaningless was the day I lost my reason to love anyone else. As the thunderclouds switch positions with normal clouds, the world s memories pierced through my body. It was normal school day for everyone but not for me. I was joking normally with my friends but the stumble of hell befall on my soul. But as the

Psycology Essay Example For Students

Psycology Essay Word Count: 548Which psychologists theory best describes your own personality?Personality can best be described as personal qualities of an individual. No two people have the same personality, but yet all the different personalities in the world can be characterized into 4 main theories. The four psychologists that thought up the four theories are Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, Erik Erikson, and Abraham Maslow. (pg.64) Each man based his theory on a different part of a persons personality development. The theory that best describes my personality is Maslows. Maslows theory suggested that human needs could be put onto different levels, as if on a pyramid. (Pg. 65) Lower or more basic needs must be met before higher needs can be satisfied. (pg. 65) For example, Maslow has the need for water, food and shelter at the bottom of the pyramid. As everyone knows a life as an underprivileged person is much harder then that of a wealthy person. It takes more strength to be underprivileged and rise to the top, knowing you did not start out with all the basic needs. Maslows theory best describes my personality because I agree with what he says that people need to satisfy the smaller needs of their life before going on to satisfy the bigger ones. In my life, I know that if I did not have the essential needs, such as water, food, shelter I would be depressed and saddened. It would be hard for me to push myself to do things such as go to school, get a job because I would feel lower then other classmates, or other employees. If I did not have shelter or a place I could go to then I would not be able to feel secure which would also keep me from loving my family and friends. Without family and friends it would be hard to gain esteem to reach higher and higher then what I have already mastered, or learned. Even in my own life I have come across examples of Maslows theory. One example is when a class project was assigned and I did not have the correct materials. Not having those materials made me feel as thought I could not move on to the next step, which would be doing the project. Another example of how Maslows theory has taken shape in my own life is something as simple as forgeting a lunch, or lunch money. Without having the basic essential need, food, I was hungry and did not feel I could go on the rest of the day in school. Maslows, pyramid formed way of showing the developmental needs of people best suits my personality. I feel that in order to go on in life I need to have all the things under my belt to support me as I try and achieve higher things. Everything in life needs a strong base, whether it be someones personality or a building. Without a strong base the structure, whatever it is, that is trying to be built up will not stay strong. My personality is very much built around that feeling of security. That is why Maslows theory explains my personality best.

Paranoid Schizopreina Essays - Schizophrenia, Psychiatric Diagnosis

Paranoid Schizopreina Paranoid Schizophrenia Just because they really are out to get you doesnt mean you arent paranoid. -Steven Brust Paranoid schizophrenia is a serious, lifelong condition that leads to many complications, including suicidal behavior. Paranoid Schizophrenia is one of the several types of schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness in which a person loses touch with reality. The classic features of paranoid schizophrenia are having delusions and hearing things that are not real. This paper will discuss the key symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of paranoid schizophrenia. Key Symptoms Delusions and hallucinations are the symptoms that make paranoid schizophrenia most distinct from other types of schizophrenia. You are less likely to be affected by mood problems or problems with thinking, concentration or thinking. In paranoid schizophrenia, a common delusion is that you are being singled out for harm. For instance, you may believe that the government is monitoring every move that you make or that a co-worker is poisoning your lunch. You may also have delusions of grandeur- the belief that you can fly, that you are famous or in a relationship with a famous person. You hold on to theses false beliefs despite evidence to the contrary. Delusions often result in aggression or violence, especially if you believe you must act in self-defense against those who want to harm you. An auditory hallucination is the perception of sound, usually voices, that no one else hears. The sounds may be a single voice or many voices. These voices may talk either to you or to each other. The voices are usually unpleasant. They make ongoing criticisms of what you are thinking or doing, or make cruel comments about your real or imagined faults. Voices may also command you to do things that can be harmful to yourself or others. When you suffer from paranoid schizophrenia, these voices are real to you. You may even talk to or shout at the voices. Causes Paranoid schizophrenia and other forms of schizophrenia are brain disorders. Genetics and environment play a key role in causing paranoid schizophrenia. The precise cause is unknown. Certain factors may increase the risk of developing or triggering paranoid schizophrenia including: family history, exposure to viruses while in the womb, poor nutrition while in the womb, stressful life circumstances, older prenatal age, and taking psychoactive drugs during adolescence. Treatment and Prevention If your doctor or mental health provider suspects that you may have paranoid schizophrenia he or she will run a series of test. These tests will help pinpoint a diagnosis, and rule out other problems that may cause some similar symptoms. These test may include: a physical exam, laboratory testing, and a psychological evaluation. To be diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, you must meet the symptom criteria spelled out in the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of mental disorders. ( www.mayoclinic.com) Diagnostic criteria includes a preoccupation with one or more delusions, and frequent auditory hallucinations. Paranoid schizophrenia is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment, even when you have periods when you feel better and symptoms have lifted. You may be tempted to ignore or stop treatment, but effective treatment can control your condition and lead to a happier life. The main treatment methods for paranoid schizophrenia are: medication, psychotherapy, hospitalization, electroconvulsive therapy, and vocational skills training. Paranoid schizophrenia is not a condition that can be prevented. Evidence shows that some signs of schizophrenia may even be present from early childhood. However, to prevent episodes from occurring as frequently some steps can be followed. Take your medications as directed, even if you are not feeling well. Avoid drugs and alcohol as these tend to worsen the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. Pay attention to the warning signs and check before combining other medications to your daily regimen.