An evaluation of fitness to stand trial psychiatric reports in Brunei
This study evaluated the application of fitness criteria in pre-trial psychiatric reports prepared for 32 cases sent to psychiatric services in Brunei for assessment of fitness to stand trial over a 3-year period. The primary ICD-10 diagnoses were mental and behavioural disorder due to methyl-amphet...
| Authors: | ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2021
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| In: |
The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology
Year: 2021, Volume: 32, Issue: 4, Pages: 496-505 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | This study evaluated the application of fitness criteria in pre-trial psychiatric reports prepared for 32 cases sent to psychiatric services in Brunei for assessment of fitness to stand trial over a 3-year period. The primary ICD-10 diagnoses were mental and behavioural disorder due to methyl-amphetamine abuse in 10 (31.2%) cases, schizophrenia in 10 (31.2%) cases, mental retardation in 1 (3.1%) case and acute psychotic disorder in 1 (3.1%) case. Three (9.4%) cases were reported to be unfit to stand trial. Reports for 27(84.4%) cases addressed the person’s ability to understand the charges, 21(65.6%) addressed the ability to decide how to plead, 24(75.0%) addressed the ability to follow court proceedings and 29(90.6%) addressed mental state at the time of the alleged offence. 1(3.1%) addressed the ability to instruct counsel. Of the reports that addressed each criterion, 26 (81.3%) cases were able to understand the charges, 19 (59.4%) were able to decide how to plead, 22 (68.6%) were able to follow court proceedings and 1 (3.1%) was able to instruct counsel. Three(9.4%) cases showed evidence of insanity at the time of the offence. This paper discusses the implications of these findings on the management of mentally disordered offenders in Brunei. |
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| ISSN: | 1478-9957 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/14789949.2020.1864450 |
