Schizophrenia, a complex neuropsychiatric condition, manifests with severe neurobiological and psychosocial symptoms, including psychosis, cognitive dysfunction, and social withdrawal. Neuroscience links these symptoms to synaptic malfunctions and neurotransmitter dysregulation, leading to a profound disconnection from reality. The disorder significantly affects cognitive, affective, and behavioral functions, causing considerable neuropsychological distress and functional impairments. The interplay of schizophrenia with the criminal justice system is complex, often exacerbating psychiatric stigma and introducing challenging neuroethical dilemmas. From neuroscientific perspective, schizophrenia symptoms are classified into 'positive' (hyperfunctioning or distortion of normal mental processes) and 'negative' (reduction or loss of mental functions). Each category presents distinct medico-legal challenges. Studies, including those from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness, highlight the importance of identifying neurobiological and psychosocial factors that increase the risk of criminal justice involvement, stressing the necessity of addressing concurrent disorders like substance use disorders. This convergence underscores the need for a delicate balance between therapeutic interventions and legal responsibility, advocating for policy reforms and neuroscience-based research initiatives. Such efforts are crucial for improving the management of schizophrenia within the criminal justice system, focusing on both the medical and societal aspects of the disorder.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/0946-5448.20230035 | DOI Listing |
Torture
January 2025
Medical Director, DIGNITY. Correspondence to:
Introduction: Prison overcrowding can be defined in different ways, and no universal definition exists. More than 120 countries report prison occupancy rates above their own capacity. This paper provides an overview of legal and health implications of overcrowding, analyses potential causes, and provides examples of how different countries utilised non-custodial measures to reduce overcrowding to disseminate good practices as inspiration for other contexts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGerontologist
January 2025
University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle, WA USA.
Background And Objectives: Generativity, a concern and commitment for others, has shown to be positively associated with health and well-being. Research on generativity in sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities is limited, despite its potential importance given the marginalization older SGM individuals face and limited interaction between generations. We integrate Generativity Theory and the Health Equity Promotional Model to examine key factors for generativity and subgroup differences among SGM midlife and older adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Health Commun
January 2025
School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and Security, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA.
Communication scholars warn against focusing on individual behaviors when discussing health issues, arguing that doing so can reduce affect and policy support. Although COVID-19 outcomes are linked to structural barriers to treatment, policy interventions appear to improve outcomes for vulnerable groups. Thus, strategic messages must promote public understanding of social determinants and policy support related to COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCrim Behav Ment Health
January 2025
School of Health and Society, University of Salford, Manchester, UK.
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a set of symptoms and signs that may follow from exposure of the unborn child to alcohol during pregnancy. Characterised by cognitive and behavioural impairments, one secondary outcome from FASD, is encounters with the criminal justice system (CJS). In some countries, for example, England and Wales, it seems likely that many cases are missed at this point and, thus, courts are at risk of making unsafe judgements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFForensic Sci Int
January 2025
Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
In 2018, after law enforcement announced it had used a technique called forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to identify the Golden State Killer, we conducted a U.S. general population survey and found most respondents supported using FIGG to solve violent crimes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!