MENTAL ABNORMALITIES IN CRIMINALS BASED ON BRIGGS LAW CASES
PETER B. HAGOPIAN M. D.1
1 Assistant Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.
1. The Briggs Law is a state law of Massachusetts, providing for automatic examination of those who are accused of a serious crime or repeated crimes.
2. Since its first effective operation in 1921, there have been 14,570 cases reported for examination.
3. Opinions expressed in 6,591 cases have been studied, investigated, and tabulated; 19% showed some mental abnormality.
4. Incidence of mental abnormality is greater in the criminal population than in the general population.
5. General comments relative to the operation of the law are made.
