Mental Disability Law

This course is designed to explore the relevant legal processes and the civil, constitutional, and criminal issues affecting persons with mental health disabilities. Possible topics include:

• Involuntary civil commitment
• Institutional rights
• The right to refuse treatment
• Deinstitutionalization
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• Competencies
• The insanity defense
• Sexually violent predator acts
• The impact of mental disability in the criminal trial process on issues such as:
  • Confessions
  • Sentencing, including the death penalty