@janallmac

the issue is that everyone is too quick to either show sympathy for the criminal because of mental health or stigmatis mental health

there is no real answer really

some are deffo using mental health as a get out jail free card also < playing the system against the system > due to lack of resources > it works

@ecksmc
I live in the US, as you know, and there is some very ill-will towards white criminals who have committed some heinous crime against black people and then used mental illness as an excuse.

So, it is complicated! I agree!

It shouldn't be an excuse, and it shouldn't be stigmatized. Mental illness is real and if someone is struggling, they should get help.

Wish I had a magic wand and the wisdom to fix all this. 😟

@janallmac

in Scotland defendants get, or can ask for, background reports < courts usually ask for them

they reports come from the defendants GP, social workers, or any other org they are engaged with like addiction teams or mental health orgs - if the defendant hasn't been engaged with anyone a social worker is appointed to do the report which can lead to GPs, therapists etc and other orgs getting involved

then during sentencing they reports are taken into consideration by the judge

@janallmac

media outlets have a lot to do with the stigma surrounding it all

always wanting to report on this one and that one having issues when they committed crimes is a big reason we see so much stigma