If the defendant had sz and they killed someone how would the fact that you have sz effect your verdict.? I really struggle with this scenario. I had an episode and felt God wanted me to sacrifice my son. I am a religious person but not thinking straight at the time I didn’t realize that God wouldn’t ask this of me. So I struggled with my decision broke down crying in front of this fictitious god. I just told him I couldn’t do it. So I really struggle with what would i do as a juror if I would happen to be. The other jurors would look to you for input. I go back and forth on how lenient I would be. Anyone have any input? Do you think you would be more or less forgiving, because you’ve walked through this hell?
I think you would have a hard time getting selected for jury duty as a sz. That is if the attorneys that do the selecting can tell.
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Which is actually a blessing in disguise
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In practice, I bet the attorneys wouldn’t let someone with sz be on that case. In theory, I would probably be less forgiving. I hate it when people try to use this disease as an excuse to commit violent acts.
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I read about a schizophrenic man not going to jail for murder.
I think that sounded very strange.
Some form of punishment and treatment plan should always be made.
Hospital or rehabilitation of jail or all of them is often used.
Even if he didn’t mean to hurt anyone but did it is still a crime and that means he is a danger to himself and others in society and that action needs to be taken.
Restrict what tools he can use n what he can do certainly for a time period action should be taken.
Also medication, care plan , rehabilitation and protect him from other in mates and guards as well as from himself etc
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Have had the first calling for being a juror on a murder case. Thankful I didn’t get the second calling.
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I don’t think sz can exonerate someone who commits a violent act, but I think it can mitigate some of the blame. To me, the issue of intentionally looms large in this question. If a person cold bloodedly kills someone with no remorse I think he or she deserves a harsher sentence than someone who kills because he thinks someone who rang his doorbell has come to kill him. I don’t think the sz should be left alone to roam about freely, but I just can’t feel as much blame for him or her if he or she kills because of this disease. We probably need to restrain a violent sz and much as a normie sz, but I don’t think he or she deserves the same level of punishment.
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The prospective juror with SZ (once it’s known), would be thrown out of the courtroom so fast their head would spin, although the court claims it wants the trial to be heard by a jury of their peers (of the defendant) I don’t think the trial would be considered fair.
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I read someone might be getting death penalty for murder .
This man could be psychotic .
He was hospitalised for two months.
I don’t think I agree with death penalty at all.
There’s rehabilitation in jail and one can work and study in jail ,care plan etc
There’s cuff where they cuff n monitor the prisoner who may other wise live as normal.
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I believe when you’re a juror that you are supposed to be impartial and objective.
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I never had violent urges…against others anyway…and rarely want to self harm…even full on super sayain sz I only wanted to pop out an eyeball and gain Odin style wisdom…so I agree with @Ninjastar I feel like it would be them using sz as an excuse…I would excuse myself from being a jurior…I would never want to judge anyone and have my say actually matter…especially if it was possible they may be executed…
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I think they call it murder in the 2nd or 3rd degree anyway(got that from the shows sorta speak). So there is usually a lesser sentence if they are not in the correct frame of mind. I would try to get a lesser charge. Not scott free because while psychotic that person can still be a danger to others. Do they still have people that are sentenced to life in a medical ward? I know that that john hinkly guy was hospitalized until recently. I don’t know the ins and outs of that though.
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I don’t like being the odd man out, here; but sz can be a serious mental illness. If untreated, then maybe a murder is possible. but even if a schizo commits murder, there probably would’ve been obvious signs of dangerous mental instability beforehand.
If the schizo wasn’t taking his medication, or if the government wasn’t keeping him in an asylum; then the blame is quite obvious, in my opinion. Maybe you can compare the situation to a wild lion escaping the zoo, or a bear finding a camp site…?
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I don’t know for sure if they would allow someone with schizophrenia to be a juror or not. Personally I think if you were not trying to hide your illness or if they found about it some other way, that they might think you might be biased to sit in on a crime involving someone else with schizophrenia.
I’m 55 years old and I’ve never had jury duty in my life. I never wanted to either. But I’ve been called for jury duty three or four times and each time I told them that I was schizophrenic and they excused me from being a juror. I think the last time they sent me the letter to serve I called them and told them my problem and I think I am permanently excused from serving, which suits me just fine.
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I wish I didn’t have to do jury duty. I like the idea of justice and all; but I’m going to be in a claustrophobic room with 12 other people (I can’t math)… and I’m allergic to the sound of my voice
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I was selected for jury duty two or three times so far. I was in school. Being treated differently because of a mental illness is a form of discrimination; a person who is under the influence or intoxicated is often treated worse than a person with mental illness. I would factor in whether or not this person was under the influence of drugs, if they were aware of what they were doing, and if it was an intentional and motivated act. Did this person have a motive? This and evidence would be an important aspect unless its a closed trial or the jury is rigged.
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They excused me three or four times. Maybe they will excuse you too. On the form they sent me to fill out and mail back to them, it asked if I had a medical condition or any other reason I think that I should be excused for.
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You don’t have to worry about being lenient or not. As a juror, you are a trier of fact, not trier of law. Trier of law is reserve for the judge, who will hand out the sentence. Meaning the judge will decide whether he will go to jail or psychiatric hospital. As a trier of fact, you will decide whether that person is indeed legally insane at the time they committed the crime. Being legally insane is different from being psychiatrically insane. Regardless, having schizophrenia or any severe mental illness is a mitigating factor in law and should be recognized as such. As fellow sufferers of schizophrenia, we should be much more understanding towards people with mental illnesses.
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