Determination of Criminal Responsibility of Offenders with Personality Disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v4i1.2184Keywords:
Crime, Disorder, Insanity, Law, PersonalityAbstract
The purpose of this research is to analyze how criminal law addresses offenders with personality disorders in determining criminal responsibility. The doctrinal legal analysis research method was employed for this purpose. Criminal law allows the defense of insanity and the defense of diminished responsibility to offenders with severe personality disorders. However, there are some ambiguities and reservations, based on certain misconceptions, in the criminal justice system around the world in allowing insanity defense to offenders with personality disorders. Moreover, the statutory provisions dealing with the insanity defense are more inclined towards cognitive and behavioral aspects of offenders, while not giving due weightage to the pathological behavioral and thinking patterns of offenders due to personality disorders. The relevant statutory provisions in criminal law are recommended for amendment to include personality disorders in determining the criminal responsibility of offenders.
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