Mental Health and Crime (P02323)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : LAW-P-LW0065

The aim of this module is to examine the relationship between mental health and crime and explore issues relating to the appropriate treatment of mentally disordered offenders in the criminal justice system. Different forms of mental disorder will be analysed (including psychotic illnesses; personality disorders and the mental health problems associated with substance misuse) and their links to crime evaluated. Key objectives are also: to trace the history and development of mental health law; to explore the nature of criminal justice and other disposals for mentally disordered offenders (comparing Scotland with England/Wales); and to assess the nature and limits of offender profiling. A day visit will be arranged to the State Hospital and Carstairs, where students will meet staff and patients and gain an insight into clinical practice and the day to day running of a secure institution. The course will conclude with a mock trial, where students will act as prosecution; defence agents and jury and the staff as judge, defendant and expert witnesses.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Law, (School of Law, Schedule F)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to: describe the main forms of mental disorder and what their relationship is to crime ; understand the evolution of mental health law and the nature of contemporary psychiatric defences; summarise and assess the main features of mental health disposals; and understand the role and limits of offender profiling in criminal investigation.