Mental Disorder in the Criminal Process

With its short and lively case history, basic documents, and expert commentary, this text is an ideal teaching tool for all who want to evaluate for themselves how society deals with the mentally disordered in the criminal justice process. A chronological account of Stan Stress's case and his obsessive belief in a Vietnam/sports conspiracy is interlaced with evaluations by lawyers, psychologists, and psychiatrists and with the authors' critiques and questions about key issues in the interface between law and psychiatry. This multi-purpose book offers invaluable background for students and teachers, lawyers and mental health professionals to consider.

Stan Stress's case is an important one which raises major questions in the treatment of mentally disordered individuals who are involved in the criminal justice process. The text consists of a brief introduction and six chapters which present the various stages of Stan's involvement in the criminal justice process between 1983 and 1989. The documents included at each stage are presented as they were made available at the time, and commentary and questions connected with each period help the reader become actively involved in interpreting the case and the justice process as it unfolded. Extensive end-notes and a bibliography provide background and sources for further reading on the subject.

GRANT H. MORRIS is both Professor of Law at the University of San Diego and Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego, Medical School. He has participated on mental health law revision projects in several states and served as a Legal Reporter to the American Bar Association developing standards for mental health professionals in the criminal process. He has written extensively on the mentally ill and the criminal justice process and also has taught mental law courses to law students and psychiatric residents.

ALLEN C. SNYDER is Associate Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law. He has served as Senior Staff Attorney, San Diego Legal Aid Society Inc., and served on numerous boards and community organizations dealing with issues in mental health treatment. He has also taught a variety of professional courses also in mental health law.