Discuss how it can be determined whether a mental illness affected the individuals ability from knowing right from wrong at the time the crime was committed.

Mental Health Services: Legal and Ethical Issues Roche, T. (2002, March 18). Andrea Yates: More to the Story. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,218445,00.html

Andrea Yates: More to the Story

The case of Andrea Yates, who drowned her five young children in a bathtub on a beautiful June morning, captured the attention of societys legal and psychological community. The defense she used was not guilty by reason of insanity, which subsequently failed. The Time magazine online article, Andrea Yates: More to the Story examines the role of the key prosecution witness, a forensic psychiatrist who was paid $500 an hour to dispute claims that Andrea Yates was insane under Texas Law.

As you learned in this weeks unit, the term insanity is a legal, rather than psychological, concept. Although the case was later overturned on a technicality, the original jury did not adhere to the defenses claim of legal insanity. The term insanity is a legal, rather than a psychological concept. After reviewing chapter 14 in your text on the legal and ethical issues regarding criminal commitment, complete the following: Use the Andrea Yates case and in addition select another news story about a criminal case where the defendant used the not guilty by insanity defense and include citations and a Reference page.

Write a 1-2 page essay incorporating the following:

Overview of the Case Story: In 2 -3 paragraphs, provide an overview of the case story.
Not Guilty by Insanity Defense: In 1-2 paragraphs, explain why it is difficult for the defendant in the chosen story to be found not guilty by insanity in a court of law. Discuss how it can be determined whether a mental illness affected the individuals ability from knowing right from wrong at the time the crime was committed.
Ethical Issues: In 2- 3 paragraphs, discuss any ethical concerns that pertain to the chosen case story. Explain why it is difficult for the defendant in the chosen story to be found not guilty by insanity in a court of law. Discuss any ethical concerns that pertain to the chosen case story.
For this Assignment, you are to discuss the insanity defense and ethical considerations. To help you prepare for this weeks Assignment, review the following sources:

Find a scholarly resource in the library or online which supports your own ideas on your chosen case, and integrate the academic material. Synthesize information from the Andrea Yates case and at least one resource from the library.

Writing Requirements and Assignment Guidelines

Your Assignment should be 1-2 pages, not including the title and reference pages, and should include the following elements:

Title page: Provide your name, title of Assignment, course and unit number, and date
Body: Answer the questions in complete sentences and paragraphs
Reference Page: Sources in APA format

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