The Field Of Forensic Psychiatry

By Gary Ward


Psychiatry as a field of medicine also has other sub-specialties under it. One of those sub-specialties is forensic psychiatry, which is also closely related to criminology. For the purpose of this article, the abbreviation FP will be used. FP is a field that interfaces the fields of psychiatry and law. Specialists in this field are referred to as forensic psychiatrists. They do many tasks in the court and law enforcement systems.

The work of forensic psychiatrists involves determining if defendants are in a position to be tried a court of law. Sentencing is often done based on the recommendations they provide. Defendants can also hire these professionals to work as expert witnesses to assist with their case. CST and MSO are the two areas encompassed in criminal evaluations. Competency to stand trial is abbreviated as CST while mental state during time of offence is abbreviated as MSO.

Competency to Stand Trial refers to as competency evaluation that aims to determine if the defendant in a lawsuit has the mental capacity to understand the charges they face. It also determines if the defendant is in a position to help their own attorneys in preparing their defenses. CST is a provision in the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The provision requires that one must be present for their own trial, face their accuser, and help their attorney to defend themselves.

These psychiatric professionals are sometimes needed to serve as expert witnesses in criminal and civil cases. Here, they make reports with their opinion on the case and present it to the jury or judge. The jury or judge may use the opinion on making their final verdict regarding the case.

These psychiatrists may also give their opinion regarding the state of mind of an individual at the time they committed a crime. They seek to determine whether or not the defendant could understand the criminality of their actions. Different states apply this psychiatric knowledge to different levels with some rejecting it completely.

Three key standards of reason are based upon by FP specialists in determining mental fitness. The three standards are ALI test, Durham rule, and MNaghten rules. If mental capacity is determined to be lacking in the defendant during or after committing a crime, one of the three standards may be based upon to drop the charges. The basis for freeing the defendant is lack of mental capacity to understand the criminality of their actions.

In court trial where a psychiatrist has been hired to determine mental fitness, both the prosecution and the defense will have their own psychiatrists. Psychiatrists are also employed to take care of prisoners in jail as well as prison. In addition, they also provide care for mentally ill individuals who not been charged with criminal conduct on the basis of mental unfitness.

The risk management profession is adopting FP at a high rate. FP is used to avoid future risks by placing suspected or potential offenders under the supervision of forensic psychiatric professionals. The professionals usually work as a team comprised of nurses, psychologists, care workers, and psychiatrists.




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