A thought came to me. Even if a person is found criminally insane at the time of the crime (ie. in this case killing 6 family members) When they do their time in a mental assylum should they not carry out their original sentence also? After all they are totally sane now so they must understand if you commit a crime you do the time, no? if they are so sane they would understand why this is - they killed 6 people!!!! This guy could be free in 2 years if he gets off with criminal insanity! That is criminal insanity in itself surely?
2007-11-15 11:29:07 · 6 answers · asked by spice2504 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Me thinks me dear I do not have to rethink bugger all. My husband is a senior officer in an english prison and as far as i'm concerned it is a picnic for prisoners. I'm sorry i don't expect mental health patients to get an easy life after blowing away 6 members of their family they need 24 hour therapy for the whole of their sentence as far as I am concerned. What about the poor babies & children lying in pools of blood? Thats all right we'll tell them their brother isn't feeling well & if they survive (although in this case they did not) we'll assure them their brother won't do it again cause he's all better now ? Get a life. I am not silly on these issues my husband works in high security prisons - that is real life & it could happen to anybody.... your child..your mum...your partner. These people should understand a life for a life.
2007-11-15 11:50:09 · update #1
Was not your answer that annoyed me but more the fact you were not allowing me my opinion - everyone is entitled at the end of the day. I read all answers with interes it was more your tone I disliked.
2007-11-17 00:54:12 · update #2
No. An acquital on the grounds of insanity means that the person was NOT RESPONSIBLE, for medical reasons, for what he did.
If he was able to know the difference between right and wrong, or was able to control his actions, then he wasn't 'insane' as the criminal law defines it.
It's perfectly possible to be insane, as a psychiatrist would define it, but still guilty of a crime.
For example, if John thinks that if he kills the President Angelina Jolie will be so impressed she'll want to have sex with him, he's mad - but he's still guilty of murder. He did something he knew was wrong - killing the President - because he wanted the results of doing it - sex with Ms Jolie. That he was wrong about what would happen means he's mad, but NOT that he's not guilty by reason of insanity.
If you do something you have no control over, on the other hand, you're not criminally liable.
So if you have a heart attack while driving, lose consciousness, crash into a bus stop and kill six people, you're not guilty of murder, because you had no "Mens Rea" (Guilty Mind, literally). You killed them - but due to a medical condition it was through no fault of your own.
The same thing applies if, through insanity, you kill six people NOT KNOWING that it was wrong to kill them, or because you had NO CONTROL over your actions. You killed them, but due to a medical condition it was through no fault of your own.
Richard
EDIT : -
To "Aslan" :- Increasing the punishment for people who're not guilty by reason of insanity CANNOT increase the deterrent against such crimes, because by definition the person either *doesn't know* what he's doing is wrong, or is *unable* to control himself anyway. Even a mandatory "death by slow torture" therefore wouldn't deter even one of these crimes.
2007-11-15 11:33:08 · answer #1 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, what do you think a mental asylum is? a picnic in the park? Someone who commits crimes such as the one you describe will be in a high security lockup that is more stricter and harder than a regular prison, so in reality they are doing more than their fair share of time plus that have to have therapy where regular prisoners can opt out as that is voluntary.
Your sense of whats fair is a bit warped m'dear, me thinks you need a rethink it over carefully.
ADDITIONAL:
Yes you do need to think it over again because your sense of justice is a bit strained, you need to get a grip of the reality here as you asked a question and I have like others answered it, so giving a thumbs down because you do not like my reply is tough **** on your part, suck it up or shut up and listen to the answers and not your own opinion as that is then just you trying to impose on others your views when you asked a question.
My brother works in high security asylums and they aint pretty, yes I agree that regular prisons are a walk in the park, I think the system is too soft on them but it still does not detract from your initial question and my answer.
Get a life yourself...
2007-11-15 11:40:26 · answer #2 · answered by cheek_of_it_all 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no, you would be set free when you are deemed to be no threat to anyone again, you would not be charged with that crime simply because it was not you at the moment the crime was commited, therefore not guilty of any wrong doing.
2007-11-15 11:42:53 · answer #3 · answered by andy F7 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-09-29 08:00:27 · answer #4 · answered by mccowen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree with you - although the law wouldnt
whatever happened to a life for a life? letting people off so easily will only mean that the rate of murders will increase
2007-11-15 11:38:02 · answer #5 · answered by Aslan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What's a, "mum"??
2007-11-15 11:37:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋