The case of Andrea Yates, who drowned her five young children in a bathtub on a beautiful June morning, captured the attention of society's legal and psychological community. The defense she used was "not guilty by reason of insanity," which subsequently failed. The Time magazine online article, "Andrea Yates: More to the Story" examines the role of the key prosecution witness, a forensic psychiatrist who was paid $500 an hour to dispute claims that Andrea Yates was insane under Texas Law.
As you learned in this week's unit, the term "insanity" is a legal, rather than psychological, concept. Although the case was later overturned on a technicality, the original jury did not adhere to the defense's claim of legal insanity.
For this Assignment, you are to discuss the insanity defense and ethical considerations. To help you prepare for this week's Assignment, review the following sources:
1. In your text, Chapter 14: "Mental Health Services: Legal and Ethical Issues"
2. Roche, T. (2002, March 18). "Andrea Yates: More to the Story." Retrieved fromhttp://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,218445,00.html
3. Duran, M. V. (2013). Juries and Insanity. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cengage.com/custom/ems/psych/shared/video/player.html?video=jries_and_insnty_16555
Proceed with the Assignment locating one credible source from Kaplan Library or the internet about a criminal case where the defendant used the not guilty by insanity defense. You can use the Andrea Yates case. Address the following:
1. Provide an overview of the case story.
2. Explain why it is difficult for the defendant in the chosen story to be found not guilty by insanity in a court of law.
3. Discuss any ethical concerns that pertain to the chosen case story.
The best answer will discuss how it can be determined whether a mental illness affected the individual's ability from knowing right from wrong at the time the crime was committed.
As you learned in this week's unit, the term "insanity" is a legal, rather than a psychological concept. After reviewing the text material on the legal and ethical issues regarding criminal commitment, the article, "Andrea Yates: More to the Story", and the supplemental video Juries and Insanity, complete the follow:
Select a news story about a criminal case where the defendant used the not guilty by insanity defense. You can use the Andrea Yates case. Students are to use APA writing style. Complete the following in a total of 1 to 2 pages. When completed, submit the Unit 9 Assignment Template to the Unit 9 Assignment Dropbox.
Overview of the Case Story
In 2 to 3 paragraphs, provide an overview of the case story.
Not Guilty by Insanity Defense
In 1 to 2 paragraphs, explain why it is difficult for the defendant in the chosen story to be found not guilty by insanity in a court of law. The best answer will discuss how it can be determined whether a mental illness affected the individual's ability from knowing right from wrong at the time the crime was committed.
Ethical Issues
In 2 to 3 paragraphs, discuss any ethical concerns that pertain to the chosen case story.