The Scope of Legal Psychiatry

Abstract

Law and psychiatry as distinct disciplines overlap inevitably in many ways. There are many areas in which the two potentially or actually have concerns in common, and these seem to be expanding all the time. These areas are rather heterogeneous, and range from the understanding and treatment of the criminal offender to social issues such as abortion or gun control, and all the way to highly philosophical problems such as confidentiality or the involuntary detention of the dangerous. In actuality, however, the degree and type of interaction between the two disciplines has been remarkably narrow and constricted as this article will demonstrate in depth.

The Mentally‐Disordered Juvenile Offender: An Inquiry Into the Treatment of The Kids Nobody Wants

“…(Meehl, 1970) Still others feel that their contribution could be greater if they participated only at the dispositional stage of the proceedings. (Suarez, 1973) Some claim that their participation is merely an excuse for gross violations of individual liberties, and that mental illness is itself a myth.…”