I’m sick and tired of folks committing crimes and then people start considering and accepting “mental illness” could have been why.

I think it depends on the mental illness and the crime. There was that one guy who got a railroad spike through his head and became abusive and that makes sense cuz the spike damaged his brain

Agreed

As a therapist in training, I agree. I see it a lot with felons. Instead of blaming their actions, they blame mental health. Even though they never got the help they could've gotten before it got bad. I have a guy in my internship group class. He's been to jail six times this year. He says he gets angry fast and that he can't control his anger, so he starts fights with the people who make him mad. He's been court ordered anger management. He goes to one class a month and then doesn't go again. He doesn't want to get help. He says he likes the rush it gives him. He went inpatient, and they gave him a diagnoses of bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. Now, anytime he gets into a fight, he blames his mental health.

I know a few people who got a slap on the wrist because of an insanity plea, and they aren't. They just were able to make a case on it. It really bothers me.

I mean, there are valid times it's used.

@Ella and I don’t at all doubt that. In fact it should be used when appropriate. But the issue is—everyone runs that route now. It’s like “why not take a stab at it to see if I work”. I’ll link a new case I’m following and they think the individual will use insanity *this boy killed his ex girlfriend at a cancer charity walk. He killed her in broad daylight in her vehicle then drove off and had police chasing him. Oh—she’s was in medical school because she had cancer and wanted to give back through education https://youtu.be/vxO8ZhYGqN4?si=wKgstTo7UwTbctFw