[bots]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

and your diagnosis that she wasn't mentally ill is a little baffling, especially you being a lawyer and all. You must be aware of what happened to the "Bradley Report" and surely you are aware of PRT reports on mental health within the prison system.

At least one quarter of women who end up in prison are later shown to be suffering from mental illness and most of those women are not properly diagnosed before a release appointment with a psychiatrist has been made. Its perfectly normal for post sentence assessments of mental health to be made on and after release and not before trial or during prison time.

The judicial system is hugely floored when it comes to mental health and I know this because (and I've mentioned this before) my father is a consultant psychiatrist who comes face to face with previously undiagnosed ex cons on a weekly basis.

That's as maybe. There is a simple principle that is the center of the issue here. Was she responsible for her own actions, yes or no. If she was, then she deserved a prison sentence, if she was not, then she should have gone to a medical facility.

No-one that has contributed to this thread knows that. That is for the judge and the court to decide, and guess what, they did and she went to prison. While its good to have a balanced debate and care for those that are not mentally stable. It should be acknowledged that there are actually some bad people in the world that deserve all they get, and if that means a prison sentence, so be it.