15 Aug How does a psychologist explain to the jury the mental capacity of someone under the influence of drugs who commits a crime?
This case study is designed to make you think like a forensic psychologist. Read the following scenario and answer the prompt below, referring to Chapter 10 in your textbook and the .
Scenario
I am a college student who went to a friends party last month. I have never drunk, smoked, or taken drugs. At the party I drank some punch and ate some brownies. The police told me that on the way home, I started hallucinating due to the LSD someone had purposely placed in the punch. My hallucination consisted of seeing three Martians who I thought had landed on the planet to kill the President. Due to my drug-induced state, Im told I ran over the aliens (innocent people) with my car and killed them. I woke up without any memory of these events. The doctors tell me Ill be fine although I do run the risk of occasional flashbacks. The person who put the LSD in the punch has been arrested. I was charged with negligent homicide and my trial begins next week.
Instructions
Answer the following in a whole page paper:
- You are hired by the defendant to be an expert witness to testify in the trial of this college student. How does a psychologist explain to the jury the mental capacity of someone under the influence of drugs who commits a crime? Explain your answer.
- Use at least one academic resource to back up your explanation
