Mental Illness As a Defense in Criminal Cases

[cissycicle]

Wasn't the Bipolar disorder defense utilized by the Florida school teacher who engaged in an illegal realtionship with a student?

[rmet4nzkx]

Wasn't the Bipolar disorder defense utilized by the Florida school teacher who engaged in an illegal realtionship with a student?

What does that have to do with California law and shoplifting?

[cissycicle]

What does that have to do with California law and shoplifting?

Wouldn't the answer to your question be that using the "bipolar defense" would be a universal issue. What difference does the state make? That defense can be used in any state of the union.

[rmet4nzkx]

NO! It is not a universal defense, nor is it the same issues. Being bipolar or having a mental illness is not a get out of jail free card anywhere, cases are decided on the laws of the state/jurisdiction and the facts in evidence. Often a first offense of shoplifting is managed with a civil recovery fine, however OP has a record and perhaps that is why it is being handled in a more serious manner. OP has enough trouble focusing without you distracting.

[cissycicle]

NO! It is not a universal defense, nor is it the same issues. Being bipolar or having a mental illness is not a get out of jail free card anywhere, cases are decided on the laws of the state/jurisdiction and the facts in evidence. Often a first offense of shoplifting is managed with a civil recovery fine, however OP has a record and perhaps that is why it is being handled in a more serious manner. OP has enough trouble focusing without you distracting.

rmet,your reference to "get out of jail free" is nonsensical. Sounds to me like your are of the mistaken belief that bipolar is isolated to certain states. Yes, I agree with your assessment that the OP has enough trouble focusing without ANY distractions, you included.

[rmet4nzkx]

rmet,your reference to "get out of jail free" is nonsensical. Sounds to me like your are of the mistaken belief that bipolar is isolated to certain states. Yes, I agree with your assessment that the OP has enough trouble focusing without ANY distractions, you included.

PLEASE! Having mental illness may be a mitigating factor in the defense, more specifically, if it is documented in their medical record that OP has cleptomania or some related disorder, that may also be a mitigating factor but it will not absolve OP of their responsibility and that is up to OP's public defender and their doctor to address. Right now the only factor bipolar has to do with this case is the necessity to appply for ADA accommodations in a timely manner. WE wouldn't be discussing this if you had not intended to distract OP from focusing on obtaining counsel, that is entirely your fault. Please troll somewhere else.

[cissycicle]

PLEASE! Having mental illness may be a mitigating factor in the defense, more specifically, if it is documented in their medical record that OP has cleptomania or some related disorder, that may also be a mitigating factor but it will not absolve OP of their responsibility and that is up to OP's public defender and their doctor to address. Right now the only factor bipolar has to do with this case is the necessity to appply for ADA accommodations in a timely manner. WE wouldn't be discussing this if you had not intended to distract OP from focusing on obtaining counsel, that is entirely your fault. Please troll somewhere else.

rmet, the OP probably is not interested in your maniacal and unnatural interest in me. Take this to the banter board if you dare. I'll be waiting.

[rmet4nzkx]

rmet, the OP probably is not interested in your maniacal and unnatural interest in me. Take this to the banter board if you dare. I'll be waiting.

If you will notice Aaron already moved this to a different thread so that it wouldn't distract OP.

[deadlock]

Wasn't the Bipolar disorder defense utilized by the Florida school teacher who engaged in an illegal realtionship with a student?

I did a quick search and did not find a reference to bipolar in the Ocala case. It is not entirely off the subject of the original post. The OP mentioned several times the judgements made about mental illness. I thought about several comments but decided not to confuse the issue of her need to settle her court appearance and her plans to move. In all fairness I think we should ask our administrator to move this to debate the issues??