Psychology 2032A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Antipsychotic, Mental Health Court, Risk Assessment

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2032A/B
• Professor: Mc Keown

Document Summary

Presumptions in canada"s legal system: elements that must present for criminal guilt, actus reus: a wrongful deed, mens rea: criminal intent, must be found beyond a reasonable doubt for a guilty verdict to be reached. Fitness standard: whether the defendant is mute for malice (ex. Intentionality: whether the defendant can plead to the indictment, whether the defendant has sufficient cognitive capacity to understand proceedings. Five day limit for fitness evaluations with provisions, if necessary. Issue of fitness may be raised at various stages of the proceedings. In canada only medical practioners can conduct assessments: psychiatric or forensic experience is not required, psychologists are excluded from conducting court appointed assessments. Fitness interview test revised (fit-r: competency screening test, competency to stand trial assessment instrument, macarthur competence assessment tool-criminal adjudication. Fit vs. unfit defendants: unfit defendants, single, unemployed, living alone, older females belonging to a minority group, defendants with a psychotic disorder are 8 times more likely to be found unfit.