The authors obtained opinions of forensic psychiatry in a community
survey following the not guilty by reason of insanity verdict in the
Hinckley trial. A majority of respondents expressed little or no confidence
in the specific psychiatric testimony in the Hinckley trial and only modest
faith in the general ability of psychiatrists to determine legal insanity.
Respondents' general and specific attitudes were strongly related. Younger
people and women were more positive in their views of psychiatry in the
courtroom.
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