Anders Behring Breivik judged judicially insane

arildno3

Just now, it has been revealed, to the surprise of us all that the forensic psychiatrists have concluded that Breivik is judicially insane.
This means that if their 230-page report is accepted as valid forensic material, and no second opinion is sought, the court (set for April 2012) may sentence him to involuntary confinement at a psychiatric hospital.

I am not happy with this, but it MIGHT be the best action to ensure his PERMANENT removal from society.
Nor am I happy that I've forgotten mypasword at PF.

Ryan_m_b

Perhaps he seriously is mentally ill. Either way he wont hurt anyone again.

Also make sure you PM Greg ASAP about your password.

arildno3

The next phase is now that the National Forensic Board scrutinizes the report made by the two appointed psychiatrists to see if it is a scientifically sound document (this is standard procedure in Norway). The Board's conclusions are expected to be finished by Christmas; what is extraordinar with this case is that the full 9-man Board will be actively involved; usually, only 2 or 3 of the Board members checks the report frm the psychiatrists.

dacruick

I don't think this news is as bad as it first seems.

The last thing that he wants is to be in the record books as insane.

arildno3

It is not a question of what HE wants, but of what I, and other Norwegians want.
Getting the diagnosis "paranoid schizophrenic" removes the level of personal guilt from him; and to retain that level is more important than the probable length of his confinement.

Ryan_m_b

I was thinking this exact thing. I imagine he wants to go down in history as a martyr for his cause that would stimulate others to do the same and start a revolution. Going down as a deranged mentally ill loser who committed an atrocity is definitely not what he wants.

dacruick

I agree, that's a frustrating sentiment.

I am fairly ignorant about Breivik's current legal situation, it just seems to me like being labelled insane wouldn't be beneficial to him.

Originally, I assumed that his "movement" would lose credibility due to a ruling of insanity. After doing a little bit of reading, I see that it is quite likely that some blame for his actions could be placed on the society that "made him that way".

This is a very tragic incident, and the thought of this man disgusts me. If it were up to me, I'd probably have him killed so I'm not sure I'm the right person to be discussing these matters.

NeoDevin

No, it's a matter of what is legal and just. Unless Norway has descended to mob rule since I last checked?

Ryan_m_b

Exactly. Justice is not and should not be a democratic process. You can't gather up a large group and vote on what to do in each case, that's ad-hoc justice. Rather you use democracy to establish the laws and the punishment that are then applied to each case impartially.

arildno

Well, several psychiatrists have expressed strong surprise that he has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, although a main characteristic of that disease, namely suffering from auditory or visual hallucinations are expressly denied by the observing psychiatrists.

turbo

Is this diagnosis perhaps an end-run around Norway's short sentences for murder? Can he be locked up permanently with such a diagnosis, for instance, with annual reviews? I don't know how your system works, but a mass-murderer would either get the death penalty in the US, or consecutive life sentences (no chance for release, ever).

arildno

That is, indeed, what I suspect.

The convoluted process for a person sentenced by court to compulsory mental health care (questions of factual, if not judicial, guilt must still be determined by a court of law) is as follows:
Every 3 years, the compulsory mental health care program must be reviewed by a court of law. It is the SUFFICIENT for his continued detainment that he is deemed to suffer from the same mental illness as was present during his actions an during the observations that were the foundation for the psychiatrist's report. If a court finds at such a time that no longer can be regarded as criminally insane, but still poses a danger to society, there exists an obscure, little-used provision that he can be transferred to a more conventional detention program.
If, however, the court decides that he no longer is mentally ill, and no longer poses a threat to society, he must be released. so, in theory he could be out in 2015, but probably be confined for his full, physical life.

pftest

It also seems like the ultimate way to take revenge on breivik. He really wants his ideas and motivation to be understood and taken seriously, and warn the world about islam (rightly so btw), but if it becomes commonly accepted that he is schizophrenic, his acts will be seen as completely senseless. And for him to be released, he will have to betray his own convictions, which if he isnt insane probably never will.

arildno

Tonight, the national television channel NRK brings interviews with ABBs father and step-father.
I guess I'll have to watch it.

dacruick

That sounds quite interesting. Let us know how the interview goes.