Mental Illness and Capital Punishment

Many of these individuals would benefit more from treatment than from punishment. By analyzing the crime and deciding on a proper course of action, most criminals could receive lighter sentences and more psychological help. As a result, mental illness and conditions are never used in a court of law. Thus benefiting those who are mentally challenged. They are often mislead, believing that they are “complete” by the many doctors reports they read and by the test results they receive. Psychiatric help is in order for these repeat assault offenders, not a lifetime behind bars where the taxpayers’ money is not put to good use. By placing the criminals into long-term therapy, there is at least a small chance of rehabilitation that would not be present in a full security prison. In reality most many federal prisons lack the facilities, and resources to help rehabilitate the individual who is stricken with this disease.

Criminals who are mentally disabled are not able to think clearly and function as a whole. Many psychologists often see it as “temporary insanity”. Many have propositioned that the punishment should fit the mental capacity of the offender.

With new tests that see if the criminal is really mentally challenged, government officials are beginning to change their perspective on the issue.

Most psychologists are either too busy or are too lazy to be bothered with helping inmates improve their condition. Oftentimes, many criminals are given sentences that far surpass the crime that they have committed. As a result, many conditions often worsen in prison and are left permanently unresolved.