when people commit murder, how come they are sometimes taken to a mental hospital instead of jail?

Question

i need to know for my criminal justice class..

Answer 1

because in the cases of some murders, the murderer may have committed the crime because they were suffering from a disorder which - had it been treated or diagnosed - they wouldn't have done.

Someone with severe mental disorders can't always be taken accountable for their actions because they aren't always themselves, may be unable to control themselves or inexplicable urges, and genuinely wouldn't have killed someone had they gotten help first.
In many cases, there are small signs which aren't noticed all the way up until a murder, which is unfortunately what finally brings attention to the fact that a disorder is present, so even then the murderer can't be held responsible because they had no way of knowing there was something wrong with them (think: would you know if you were crazy?).

So, instead of receiving the full punishment, some people are taken to mental hospitals to be monitored for diagnosis in the hopes of discovering the true motives (and avoiding unjust punishment) or therapy (in the hopes of preventing future murder).

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Normally they have some belief that the person is mentally ill. Whether they have mental history in the past or how the murder was done can show signs of mental illness. But I guess you'd have to be mentally ill to kill somebody anyway.... hmmm but if your doing this for your criminal justice class this should have been covered and class.

Answer 3

The court declares the person mentally incomplete,and sends him to a state mental
hospital .Once he is cured,he returned to the court to be declared sane and tries him for murder.

Answer 4

Cunning lawyers.

Answer 5

They plead insanity.

Answer 6

Because they are crazy.