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1: J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2002;30(2):295-7.Click here to read Links

Hendricks v. People: forcing the insanity defense on an unwilling defendant.

Miller RD.

Program for Forensic Psychiatry, Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.

At least 17 jurisdictions permit insanity defenses to be entered over the objections of defendants. Those jurisdictions believe that society's interest in a just determination of the charges outweighs a competent defendant's choice. If competency includes the ability to rationally choose a plea, competent defendants should not be forced to enter insanity defenses against their wills.

PMID: 12108569 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]