Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141:675-679
Copyright © 1984 by American Psychiatric Association
Public opinion of forensic psychiatry following the Hinckley verdict
D Slater and VP Hans
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.
