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 191-012 Psychiatry and Law

Note

Formerly available as 191-313/413. Students who have completed 191-313/413 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Availability

3rd and 4th year

Credit Points

12.5

Coordinator

Ms D Greig

Prerequisites

37.5 points of 2nd/3rd-year Criminology subjects for 3rd-year students. Admission to Criminology Honours for 4th-year students.

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

A 90-minute lecture and a 1-hour seminar per week. Optional visits to courts and institutions (not exceeding 12 hours) may be provided

Subject Description

This subject explores some areas of interaction between psychiatry and the law and seeks to identify the various facets of legal/medical discourse. It focuses on three areas: What is madness? How do we know this? What should we do about it? Specific topics will cover definitional problems, the different focus of law and psychiatry, civil commitment, de-institutionalisation, mental health legislation, rights of the mentally ill, care and containment in forensic psychiatry, the concept of criminal responsibility, syndrome evidence, diagnostic and treatment issues, concepts of dangerousness, the role of the expert witness and ethical issues.

Assessment

A seminar paper of 1000 words, and an essay of 2000 words, and a take-home assignment equivalent to 2000 words.

Prescribed Texts

  • Mental Health Act 1986.
  • Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997.


Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : Criminology
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Status:                   Official 1999
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au