Forensic psychiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in treating people with mental disorders. These professionals often work for institutions such as prisons or hospitals. They can also work in private practice, where they treat patients with behavioral issues at their offices. Forensic psychiatrists tend to develop extensive knowledge about criminal behavior and legal matters because of their work with these individuals.
Forensic can be defined as about or used in courts of law. A forensic psychiatrist usually comes into the picture when a patient accused of a crime seeks treatment for his condition at a mental institution, prison, or private practice. The task of a Park Slope forensic and addiction psychiatrist is to examine the patient and provide written reports that help the court make decisions about the patient’s future. These reports include discussions of the defendant’s history, current condition, and psychological assessments.
This article looks at some of the different ways a forensic psychiatrist can help your case.
- Competency to Stand Trial
Criminal defendants must be deemed competent to understand the charges against them and participate in their defense in most states. To make this determination, courts typically rely on a report from a forensic psychiatrist who has examined the defendant within a certain amount of time after their arrest. In some cases, defendants can also be found incompetent to stand trial because of their mental disorders. In these cases, defendants are referred to a forensic psychiatrist for treatment.
Defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial can forcefully undergo psychiatric treatment designed to make them competent again if they remain in pretrial custody or incarcerated after conviction. The law also allows incompetent defendants to be released from custody if they are not receiving adequate treatment in jail or prison.
- Deferred Sentencing for People with Mental Illness
Judges often have the option to delay the sentencing of defendants who have been found guilty of crimes due to mental illness but are not currently insane. These individuals can be required to receive psychiatric treatment while their sentencing is delayed indefinitely. Mental health experts working for the state will typically monitor these defendants and report to the court if their conditions improve. They may also report when there is little hope of improvement.
- Assessment of Dangerousness
Sometimes, forensic psychiatrists have to assess the risk of dangerousness in criminal defendants. They may need to provide written reports on whether a defendant is likely to commit future violent crimes if released from custody. If their findings lead them to conclude that there is little hope that the dangerous behavior will end, they may recommend the defendant’s indefinite detention. Some states offer treatment programs that focus on deterring violent acts in people who have demonstrated tendencies towards violence.
In summary, forensic psychiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in treating people with mental disorders. They also have extensive knowledge about criminal behavior and legal matters. They can help your case through assessment of dangerousness and determining competency to stand trial.
They also help with deferred sentencing for people with mental illness.
