Mental disorder is disproportionately high in offenders and this presents special issues in relation to criminal defences and sentencing. This subject builds upon Criminal Law and explores selected mental state defences (insanity/mental impairment; diminished responsibility; infanticide) and the defences of marital coercion and automatism. Principles of sentencing relevant to assessing the criminal culpability of mentally disordered offenders will also be considered. Attention is focussed on the intersection of the criminal law and psychiatry/psychology and relevant issues are explored through discussion of leading cases. Students who undertake the subject will be encouraged to become familiar with contemporary approaches to mental disorder and to develop an understanding of current law and proposals for reform.

Subject rules