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Guilty but mentally ill: An alternative verdict
Author(s) -
Blunt Lynn W.,
Stock Harley V.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370030105
Subject(s) - verdict , mentally ill , legislation , statute , opposition (politics) , insanity defense , insanity , psychiatry , association (psychology) , perspective (graphical) , mental illness , psychology , medicine , political science , law , mental health , psychotherapist , artificial intelligence , politics , computer science
Despite opposition from professional groups such as the American Psychiatric Association and the American Bar Association, “Guilty But Mentally Ill” (GBMI) statutes now exist in at least 12 states and are being considered in others. This paper reviews the development of the GBMI alternative to the insanity defense from a historical perspective, focusing especially on the reasons for its development in Michigan, the first state to pass GBMI legislation over 9 years ago. Using the Michigan experience, the GBMI statute is reviewed in terms of its perceived purpose and its success in accomplishing that purpose. Then recommendations for future changes are made.