Citation

Mack D, Weinland L. J. Crim. Justice 1989; 17(1): 39-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0047-2352(89)90065-2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Clinical data are known to be influenced by the theoretical, social, and personal preconceptions of clinicians. This study assessed the influence on Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity evaluations of demographic and other characteristics of examiners and defendants. The clinical opinion regarding sanity was measured with the examiner and defendant variables. The data base included all felony defendants who had evaluations (466) done and their examiners in a four-year period in one county (Hamilton County) in Ohio. Results showed clinical opinion was affected by the defendant's age and the examiner's length of professional experience or, in some cases, length of forensic experience.