Mental state defences in criminal law

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Title:

Mental state defences in criminal law

Author:

Yannoulidis, Steven.

ISBN:

9781409446453

Personal Author:

Yannoulidis, Steven.

Publication Information:

Farnham, U.K. ; Burlington, VT : Ashgate, 2012.

Physical Description:

xx, 228 p. ; 24 cm.

Contents:

Introduction : general themes, reform, chapter outlines -- Mental-state defences : insanity and automatism -- Disease of the mind: individual justice and societal protection -- Drug-use and the defence of insanity -- Volitional insanity : involuntariness, injustice and cognitive impairment -- Involuntary conduct : defence of impaired consciousness -- Conclusion : reform proposals, looking forward.

Abstract:

Presents interdisciplinary analysis of various factors which inform mental state defences in criminal law, and provides several practical and robust reform proposals. Includes Australian content but will be relevant to all common law countries. Author Steven Yannoulidis studies at Monash University in Australia.

Subject Term:

Insanity defense -- Australia.

Offenders with mental disabilities -- Legal status, laws, etc.

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168025569191	345.9404 Y24M 2012	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

By defining appropriate boundaries for the defence of insanity and the doctrine of automatism, this book presents a consistent and principled approach to the reform of mental state defences. In particular, by undertaking an interdisciplinary analysis of the various factors that inform these defences the book concludes with several practical and robust reform proposals There are three objectives that underpin the suggested reform proposals. First, to ensure that an accused will be able to raise a defence of insanity for involuntary conduct arising from mental disorder even where he or she is aware of the nature and quality of such conduct. Second, to provide principled means by which to establish the criminal responsibility of an accused for conduct performed in a state of drug-induced psychosis. Third, to ensure that criminal conduct arising from a state of 'impaired consciousness' does not automatically result in the outright acquittal of an accused. In articulating the competing demands that must be balanced in order to secure a principled approach to the reform of mental state defences the book will be of relevance to all common law countries.