Title Mental disability and the death penalty : the shame of the states / Michael L. Perlin

Published Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, c2013

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Description 1 online resource (x, 283 p.) Contents An introduction and the dilemma of factual innocence -- Sanism, pretextuality, the role of dignity, and therapeutic jurisprudence -- Future dangerousness and the death penalty -- Mental disability evidence and mitigation -- Competency to be executed : the case of mental retardation -- Competency to be executed : the case of mental illness -- Competency to be executed : the question of medication -- Neuroimaging and the death penalty -- The role of jurors, prosecutors, and judges -- The death penalty, mental disability, and adequacy of counsel -- The death penalty and international human rights law Summary "There is no question that the death penalty is disproportionately imposed in cases involving defendants with mental disabilities. There is clear, systemic bias at all stages of the prosecution and the sentencing process -- in determining who is competent to be executed, in the assessment of mitigation evidence, in the ways that counsel is assigned, in the ways that jury determinations are often contaminated by stereotyped preconceptions of persons with mental disabilities, in the ways that cynical expert testimony reflects a propensity on the part of some experts to purposely distort their testimony in order to achieve desired ends. These questions are shockingly ignored at all levels of the criminal justice system, and by society in general. Here, Michael Perlin explores the relationship between mental disabilities and the death penalty and explains why and how this state of affairs has come to be, to explore why it is necessary to identify the factors that have contributed to this scandalous and shameful policy morass, to highlight the series of policy choices that need immediate remediation, and to offer some suggestions that might meaningfully ameliorate the situation. Using real cases to illustrate the ways in which the persons with mental disabilities are unable to receive fair treatment during death penalty trials, he demonstrates the depth of the problem and the way it's been institutionalized so as to be an accepted part of our system. He calls for a new approach, and greater attention to the issues that have gone overlooked for so long"--Provided by publisher Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (p. 273-277) and index Notes In English Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed Subject Capital punishment -- United States Mental health laws -- United States Mentally ill offenders -- United States Insanity (Law) -- United States Legal assistance to people with mental disabilities -- United States LAW -- Criminal Law -- General. Capital punishment Insanity (Law) Legal assistance to people with mental disabilities Mental health laws Mentally ill offenders United States Form Electronic book LC no. 2021679490 ISBN 9781442200586 1442200588 0810895889 9780810895881 1299149065 9781299149069

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