|
juliaoceania -> RE: Judge: Ariz. shooting suspect mentally incompetent (5/25/2011 7:27:59 PM)
|
I would agree that there can be many options....
I suppose my response is along the lines of the person is proven to be not only incompetent to stand trial, but incapable of forming criminal intent to commit a crime because of the severity of their illness. A person such as this may never be competent to be tried, they may receive treatment, be found not guilty by reason of insanity, and be held and treated in a hospital.
I have a brother that is mentally ill. He has never hurt anyone physically. He has been put in jail because he has done dumb things, like take the keys out of a cop's car because he thought someone would take them... you know, hold on to them for the cop... the cop was not amused and he was locked up for a couple of weeks.
My brother has been so deluded in the past that he heard voices that told him things, and luckily he would not act on it. He was put on medication that helped him. He still have trouble holding jobs, has refused treatment at times, etc etc etc. It is hard to have a loved one that is this sick, because there is nothing you can do to compel a person into treatment short of hiring an attorney, which I do not have the money for. My brother has been homeless at times, even though he had other options. In the past, if he had committed a violent act I would not have thought him "guilty" because I know him. He is not a violent person. He hasn't a violent bone in his body.
I think we need to treat the mentally ill much differently than we do. It would prevent things like the Giffords shooting if family and friends could intervene for a loved one more quickly. Many people knew this kid was sick, and no one could help him.
|
|
|
|
