Experts Determine State of Mind(from Films on Demand)
- DESCRIPTION
The legal system deals with the state of mind of the defendant at the time of the crime. Experts must determine if the crime is impulsive and if the behavior is typical of the defendant.
Brain Scans Support Diminished Capacity Defense(from Films on Demand)
- DESCRIPTION
Brain scans became admissible as evidence in court in 1993, leading to a diminished capacity defense with reduced penalties in murder cases. Brain scans provide an effective tool in illustrating a vulnerability to violence in criminals. An ABC News Production.
Crime and Insanity(from Films on Demand)
- DESCRIPTION
Is a psychiatric evaluation precise enough to be allowed as testimony in a court of law? U.S. Court of Appeals judge Irving Kaufman, Hastings Center president Willard Gaylin, and others discuss the use of psychiatry in law.
An overview of various aspects of criminal defenses, including denial, affirmative, perfect, imperfect, common law, statutory, justification, excuse, self-defense, and defense of habitation.
"Legal defenses fall into two broad categories: justifications and excuses. Both categories of defenses acknowledge that the criminal act was committed. Justification defenses examine the circ*mstances existing at the time the act was committed, and excuse defenses examine the defendant’s mental state or beliefs at the time the act was committed. Not every defense fits perfectly within one category or the other and legal scholars sometimes disagree about whether a defense is justified or excused.[1]" (Lawshelf.com)
