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Attorney for the Damned: A Lawyer's Life with the Criminally Insane

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From Publishers Weekly
New York City attorney Woychuk offers six intriguing case studies?albeit with some composite characters and fictional dialogue?to illuminate the way the court system deals with the criminally insane. In one case, an illegal Sudanese immigrant, 18, arrested in a trifling dispute, was deemed psychotic after he betrayed his terror at being sent to jail; Woychuck secured his release. His other clients were guilty. One was a sexual murderer who, after 20 years of treatment, not only earned a release but also married a fellow murderer. Another was a drug-abusing child molester who, released after his victim killed himself, soon committed murder, leaving Woychuk feeling like "an instrument in another senseless death." The author's conclusions are born of experience: eliminate the insanity defense, because the public thinks it a scam; but do sentence certain convicts to psychiatric treatment and recognize that such treatment is harsher than incarceration. But the roots of the problem are deep: nearly all his clients, Woychuk writes, were abused as children.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Hired by the state to represent the mentally ill in New York City, attorney Woychuk relates five of his most dramatic legal cases. These include two murderers found not guilty by reason of insanity who met, married, and now live in suburbia; a mistaken diagnosis of a Sudanese immigrant as criminally insane because of his poor English; a mother and daughter who believe they are exorcists; and two patients too dangerous to be released. Woychuk acknowledges that his goal "to do the best for my client" can result in tragic consequences. However, he views the public perception of prison as "tough on crime" to be misplaced-prisoners finish their terms, while offenders deemed mentally ill can be held indefinitely if necessary. His book provides insights for those interested in the Gordian knot of law and psychiatry. For popular crime collections.
Gregor A. Preston, formerly with Univ. of California Lib., Davis
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Ketersediaan

B08598

B-Pendidikan & Kemanusiaan AT DE

Tersedia

Informasi Detail

Judul Seri

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No. Panggil

B-Pendidikan & Kemanusiaan AT DE

Penerbit

USA : ‎ Free Press., 1996

Deskripsi Fisik

240 pages

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

978-0684874388

Klasifikasi

B-Pendidikan & Kemanusiaan

Tipe Isi

text

Tipe Media

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Tipe Pembawa

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Edisi

Cetakan 1

Subjek

Buku Pendidikan & Kemanusiaan

Info Detail Spesifik

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Pernyataan Tanggungjawab

Denis Woychuk

Versi lain/terkait

Lampiran Berkas

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