Written by esteemed legal scholar Michael L. Perlin, this indispensable Advanced Introduction examines the long-standing but ever-dynamic relationship between law and mental health. The author discusses and contextualises how the law, primarily in the United States but also in other countries, treats mental health, intellectual disabilities, and mental incapacity, giving examples of how issues such as the rights of patients, the death penalty and the insanity defense permeate constitutional, civil, and criminal matters, and indeed the general practice of law.

Mental illness and intellectual disability (formerly called mental retardation) impact 20% of Americans, and have enormous personal, legal, and policy implications for patients, families, and society. This Nutshell introduces you to the broad range of criminal and civil issues in mental health law, including diagnosis of mental illness; expert testimony on mental health issues; civil commitment; competence to stand trial; the insanity defense; various competencies; ethical/legal issues facing mental health professionals, including informed consent, confidentiality, privilege, and malpractice; discrimination against persons with mental illness; financial and medical benefits for disabled persons.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Leading scholar Tom R. Tyler provides a timely and engaging introduction to the field of law and psychology. This Advanced Introduction outlines the main areas of research, their relevance to law and the way that psychological findings have shaped - or failed to shape - the corresponding areas of law. Key features include: broad coverage of the key topics in the field accessible, non-technical presentation of research findings focus on the relevance of psychological theories to topics in law emphasis on the institutional realities within which law functions discussion of the problems of bringing research findings into the legal system. Presenting an informative overview of this rapidly developing area, the Advanced Introduction to Law and Psychology will be a key resource for students and scholars of law, psychology and the social sciences. It will also be of benefit to psychologists and legal practitioners.

"Favored by instructors and students for its real-world focus and engaging style, this authoritative text on the interface of psychology and law has now been revised and expanded. Each chapter provides an overview of case law on an important topic and explores selected cases in depth. Coverage includes psychological and mental health issues in criminal and civil proceedings; the role of practitioners as expert witnesses and forensic consultants; and legal concerns in general clinical practice. Salient legal processes and decisions are summarized and implications for today's clinical and forensic practitioners highlighted. Instructors who request a desk copy receive a supplemental Test Bank with questions keyed to each chapter. Students can access a downloadable Study Guide. New to This Edition *Updated throughout with current research and substantive changes in mental health law. *Chapter on competency in juvenile justice. *Citations of 115 new legal cases. *Conclusion identifying urgent social challenges facing the field. Subject areas/key words: forensic psychology, mental health law, psychology and law, law and behavioral science, legal cases, expert testimony, expert witnesses, case law, legal precedents, forensic mental health, forensic psychological assessments, forensic assessments, forensic psychological evaluations, psychiatric examination, juvenile justice, psychopathy, liability, malpractice, textbooks, casebooks, texts Audience: Students and practitioners in clinical and forensic psychology, psychiatry, and social work; also of interest in criminal justice and criminology"--

This leading textbook provides a comprehensive treatment of the law governing people with mental disability and the mental health professions. The fifth edition continues to provide teachable and thought-provoking legal, clinical and empirical materials for a number of different courses, including mental disability law, law and the mental health professions, and criminal mental health law. New with this edition are extensive materials on the Virginia Tech shooting, the Supreme Court opinions in Clark v. Arizona, Panetti v. Quarterman, and Indiana v. Edwards and recent case law on the right to refuse treatment, as well as updates on federal confidentiality rules; expertise/Daubert issues; civil commitment; competency, sexual predator, and capital sentencing law; and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the ADA. Accompanied by a teacher's manual.

Peter Goodrich presents a unique introduction to the concept of jurisliterature. Highlighting how lawyers have been extraordinarily productive of literary, artistic and political works, Goodrich explores the diversity and imagination of the law and literature tradition. Jurisliterature, he argues, is the source of legal invention and the sign of novelty in judgments.