Nicholson R A, Norwood S, Enyart C
Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104.
Behav Sci Law. 1991 Fall;9(4):487-500. doi: 10.1002/bsl.2370090411.
The insanity defense is perhaps the most vigorously debated topic at the interface of the legal and mental health systems. This article addresses the need for empirical evidence by providing data on insanity acquittees and their later outcomes in Oklahoma, a jurisdiction not previously studied. Information was obtained on the demographic, legal, psychiatric, hospitalization, and post-hospitalization characteristics of all 61 defendants acquitted not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and treated on the state forensic unit during a 5-year period. Insanity acquittees had few resources, significant psychopathology, and extensive involvement with the legal and mental health systems prior to the NGRI offense. Follow-up of three groups of discharged patients--those released at an initial court review, those who completed the NGRI treatment program, and those who absconded from the forensic unit--revealed that those who escaped from the unit had significantly more arrests and subsequent legal charges than regularly discharged patients.
精神错乱辩护也许是法律系统与心理健康系统交叉领域中最具争议的话题。本文通过提供俄克拉荷马州精神错乱宣判无罪者及其后续情况的数据，探讨了实证证据的必要性，此前该司法管辖区尚未有过相关研究。我们获取了在五年期间因精神错乱而被宣判无罪（NGRI）并在该州法医部门接受治疗的所有61名被告的人口统计学、法律、精神病学、住院及出院后特征信息。精神错乱宣判无罪者资源匮乏，存在严重精神病理学问题，且在因精神错乱宣判无罪犯罪之前就频繁与法律和心理健康系统打交道。对三组出院患者的跟踪调查——那些在初次法庭审查时获释的患者、那些完成了精神错乱宣判无罪治疗项目的患者以及那些从法医部门潜逃的患者——显示，从该部门潜逃的患者的被捕次数及后续法律指控明显多于正常出院的患者。
