Delusions and decisions: Divinity, psychoses, and the Canadian criminal justice system

• In Event: Mental Illness and the Legal System

Abstract

There is an abundance of literature that examines the relationship between religion and mental illnesses. Despite the frequency with which they interact, however, there is a paucity of research in the context of the criminal justice system. In particular, there is a lack of attention paid to the legal discussion regarding the religious content of psychotic delusions experienced by accused persons when the issue of criminal responsibility is brought up in the courtroom. This study explores whether the religious content of psychotic delusions plays a role in judicial decision making. Recent Canadian case law is evaluated using qualitative content analysis.

Authors

• Edith Wu, Simon Fraser University

• Simon Verdun-Jones, Simon Fraser University