he is mentally impaired and could be of harm to others, he is still allowed on outings and leads a less restricted life than that of a sane prisoner. Even while inside the “safe hospital setting” the criminal in question may have increased contact with others and a greater chance to unintentionally kill. “Of the 300 persons committed on NGRI verdicts 80 percent were released from mental hospitals by psychiatrists, and in several instances these mental patients went on to kill again.” (Jeffrey, 73) Mental hospitals do not cure criminals.The credibility of the psychological experts must also be taken into consideration. Each different psychologist with a different concentration will interpret each situation in a different manner. Since the publication of the D.S.M. IV, psychologists are more likely to match up symptoms to the same cause. So in the case of the criminal abusing the insanity defense and faking the symptoms of a mental illness, it is more difficult to turn down a group of psychologists agreeing and easier for the criminal to get away with his crime. The insanity defense is seen as a compromise on the part of society to the law. On one hand, society believes that criminals should be punished for their crimes; but on the other hand, society believes that people who are ill should receive treatment for their illness. Basically it says that the law should not punish defendants who are mentally incapable of controlling their conduct. So why should they even be tried? By doing this, they are wasting the time and money of the tax paying public and according to society it is not useful to punish someone who is mentally ill. Especially in a situation where the court must run tests in both situations to determine if the criminal is sane or insane. “On motion of the defendant, the court will appoint a psychiatrist selected by the state and pay him $100 for an examination and $100 each day of te...
