Ronnie Mackay, Professor of Criminal Policy and Mental Health, Leicester De Montfort Law School, De Montfort University, UK. Warren Brookbanks, Professor of Criminal Law and Justice Studies, Director of the Centre for Non-Adversarial Justice at Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
This is an illuminating collection of essays on the insanity defence, covering a variety of jurisdictions, mainly in the Anglo American common law world, but some in the civil, as well as the international criminal court and tribunals. It brings out for discussion the different approaches and many dilemmas posed to our notions of criminal responsibility when a defendant is seriously mentally disordered. It makes a strong case for reform of the law in England and Wales. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in mental health law, whether as lawyers, psychiatrists or for any other reason. * Rt Hon the Baroness Hale of Richmond, formerly President, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom *