When criminals are put in prison and under psychiatric evaluation, is it to rehabilitate them or study them?

Question

For example, Ted Bundy, the Unibomber, the shoe bomber guy, Gacy, Dahmer, individuals incarcerated for crimes like these fine upstanding citizens...

Answer 1

You would tell them that is was for their own good, but the truth is never that simple~

Answer 2

Prisons are supposedly for rehabilitation. But, if you weren't a criminal when you went in, you will be by the time you are out. The psychiatric avenue is only there so that society can feel better about itself in justifying that it is a mental condition and not all criminals are completely at self designed fault. But, in truth, even with a mental condition that is still the nature of the person. I don't think either way is done correctly, and it's just a way to keep them off the streets and let us think we are doing something to help them. Rehabilitation is limited to an individual's desire for it. I can't see state money paying the kind of money to get top doctors who actually might help. Those doctors are too busy getting rich off of the rest of us. Kind of like court appointed attorneys. But, that's just an over all view. I'm sure there is some good going on somewhere...I hope.

Answer 3

I've worked in a psychiatric facility, on the forensic unit, which is where individuals are sent from the state prison on a stage 3, 'evaluation'. What would happen is the individual would stay with us for a certain amount of time, in a locked unit, and after time, going by the individuals daily evaluations, made by us mental health workers, and other members of the treatment team psychiatrists, mental health rehabilitation technicians and others it would be determined whether the individual does in fact have a mental illness/disorder, which may have contributed to the crime in which they have been incarcerated for, or whether they were trying to take the 'easy' way out. If there was a medically determinable mental illness then they would be 'alternatively sentenced' to the mental facility for either the remainder of their sentence or a portion of it.
And those who were 'faking it', (and yes they can tell, common people, do you really think a group of people who have gone to school, studied human behavior, psychology and mental illness can't?) would be sent back to the prison in which they were sent.
So yes, in a way it is to 'study' them, but not in the crazy doctor doing Electro Convulsive Therapy, giving comatosing or dangerous drugs, or treating them like a 'guinnea pig', and doing scientifically corrupt testing like labotomies or anything like that. No science-fiction horror movie stuff.
They are only 'studied' by observation and obviously evaluations, and only to determine the condition of their current mental state, and cognitive awareness and abilities.

I just wanted to comment on Tennisguy's response. the only thing 'stupid' is believing that studying something shows incompetence in any way. Obviously if people never studied anything, then we would never know anything. Just so you know yes, the forensic patients are 'studied', but not because rehabilitation methods are lacking in any way, it is to establish the patients current mental status. And yeah nothing is ever perfect, and I'm sure many would agree that studying to improve rehabilitation methods is not a bad thing.

Answer 4

a person serving a prison sentence who develops a psychiatric disorder is removed from the prison system and taken into a secure nhs establishment which rate as low secure/medium secure/ or high secure depending on the level of their psychiatric disorder,the aim of all three is the same.to assess,treat,and rehabilitate,there is no quick fix to this end and the process can be long term,at the same time all notes on them (observations) are collated between the ward staff,psych section and occupational health and form case notes which can be compared hope this answers your question.

Answer 5

I knew of a serial killer who when he was finally caught blamed the justice system for making him worse. You see when he showed early signs of violent outbursts, ie, lashing out for no apparent reason then appologising unreservedly, he then felt really guilty for all the fuss he had caused. When he went into the Justice System for Psychiatric Evaluation he became a changed man. After release from prison he then went on his killing spree, killing at random anyone who either he didn't like the look of or just for the hell of it. When he was finally caught he was asked why after psychiatric treatment he had told the authorities that he had become a changed man, he replied ' But I have I do not feel guilty anymore!

Answer 6

A little of both. With Bundy they tried to get into his psyche to figure out why he did the things he did but they also used him to try to catch other criminals. Bundy liked to talk in the third person. Maybe it helped him to detach from the things that he did. There's nothing more fascinating than a serial killer.

Answer 7

To study them and keep them and/or the community safe during the process. I am assuming you mean those that have not yet been convicted of a crime? If they have then it is for long term treatment and rehabilitation - that's the plan anyway!

Answer 8

I believe it's to study them, to write a book or textbook, to find out why they do what they do, to categorize them (in psychiatry), to know what to look for to determine other criminals and bad behaviors and to prevent the rest of society from getting involved with them and others who have that kind of behavior. They are not able to be rehabilitated. It's said that they have a mental defect.

Answer 9

People are not put in prison for psychiatric evaluation alone it is because they have broken the law, breaking the law means punishment.

Answer 10

usually to stuy them....the rehabilitation comes later once theyve diagnosed their problem...then their put in the crazy people houses specially for criminals lol

Answer 11

In Australia its generally an assessment as to the persons ability to plead....ie are they sane