Mental Illness and the Death Penalty

[pumpkinpie]

Texas Scores Poorly in Mental Health Services While Executing Many with Mental Illness
Posted: June 20, 2007 www.deathpenaltyinfo.org
A recent study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has revealed that Texas is almost last among states in spending on mental health services and performs poorly in other mental health areas. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas ranked 47th in the nation in per-capita spending on mental health services, and received a grade "D" for information access and a grade "C" overall.

[pumpkinpie]

Supreme Court Blocks Execution of Mentally Ill Inmate
Posted: June 28, 2007 www.deathpenaltyinfo.org
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 28, 2007, that Scott Panetti, a man with severe mental illness on Texas's death row, deserves a rehearing on his claim of mental incompetence. The Court's 5-4 ruling overturned a decision by U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that had used an overly restrictive definition of what constitutes insanity. The lower court had held that mere knowledge of one's crime, without a rational understanding, was sufficient to allow an execution to go forward. The Court also said that the Texas state court failed to provide Panetti with the kind of review guaranteed under the Constitution.