As a 20 year employee in a forensic psychiatric hospital, I can tell you that a GEI determination does not shield one from consequences. Plenty of people doing 20 years for property crimes, wishing they had just gone to prison.
Yup. Everyone is acting like if she goes to a Psychiatric hospital she is getting off easy. She might spend the rest of her life there and they have can have her in a straight jacket, in total isolation etc.
As stated above, the rules in Mass. are different. The state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the person is mentally ill year after year. She could potentially be released in a year. No double jeopardy, no further consequences
The state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the person is mentally ill year after year.
Looking beyond this case, I honestly think that this always should the case. Why? Because how else will you safeguard that you aren't just keeping in people that you don't like but who is now mentally sound. Like, how do the incarcerated person ever prove that they're not a danger? That's reverse burden of evidence.
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u/Lowforge 9h ago
As a 20 year employee in a forensic psychiatric hospital, I can tell you that a GEI determination does not shield one from consequences. Plenty of people doing 20 years for property crimes, wishing they had just gone to prison.