The criminal justice system is an intricate network of laws that prevents chaos and makes people responsible for their actions. Many psychological problems of an individual, including mental disorders such as psychopathic nature, have been inevitably linked to crime, but the treatment and decisions made towards these individuals is a grey area. The big question is whether a person is capable of understanding their guilt or they have no or little control over their actions and act without thinking?
The diagnosis and key terms have often played an integral part in defining the disorder. The criminal justice of the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, all have unique details in regards to the mental irregularity. The process of treatment and sentencing has been made difficult by the inability to come to a common decision by scientists, psychiatrists and the law. Some say that the disorder is so severe that it causes criminal behavior and is linked to the other people directly. Often, abnormality of a person’s mental processes is cited as the key problem, but there has been an opposing view.
One side argues that it is a genetic malfunction and a person has the disorder since childhood. An individual with such mental problem is anti-social and often, violates the rights of other people. Morality is one of the key issues, as a psychopath is unable to feel any ethical or moral concerns for the well being of others or the whole society. They also were shown to feel no remorse, which is quite dangerous and leads to high levels of recidivism. In order for these people to be treated as mentally ill patients, they must show an almost global loss of reasoning and cognitive functions. As psychopaths are unable to learn from their past actions, it makes them extremely immoral in the wide sense of the word.
But an opposing side is that these people are aware of their actions and that it is wrong. The fact that they can register and comprehend their actions makes them responsible and in some cases, “diminished responsibility” verdict was carried out. It is unclear if a psychopath can choose to commit the crime or apply an effort and avoid the negative and un-human behavior. If someone does not feel morally responsible for the crime, does not mean that they had no control over their actions, as they could base their deeds on own desires instead of other people’s.
Properly defining and explaining the disorder is a very sensitive matter, as it endangers the law and the whole system of justice. Even though people have rights and can sometimes commit acts they had no control over, responsibility is still felt, making the decision a conscious and reasonable choice. The biological nature of the disorder clashes with the opinion that it is the environment that causes such behavior. If it is the environment and not internal stimuli, then the disorder can be controlled, as the environment can be controlled to almost a full degree. It is the inner biological and genetical world that cannot be accessed.
Unfortunately, science was unable to provide a clear answer, as to the amount of control a psychopath exhibits over own actions. There is much research that must be done, in the meantime, it is important to isolate and study this disorder, to prevent crime and grief.