Arizona shooter Jared Lee Loughner just pleaded guilty for the Tucson rampage that killed six people and injured 12 others, including then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The news that he would plead guilty was leaked by a source this weekend, but today it's official. With this plea prosecutors will not pursue the death penalty for Loughner. He will likely be given multiple life sentences in federal prison, ineligible for parole.
Loughner's federal psychologist Dr. Christina Pietz testified that through treatment he was now competent to stand trial. Arizona -- and the rest of the country -- will be spared a long, draining trial thanks to this plea, so this is good news. Jared Lee Loughner will have to live with the full weight of his actions. And one thing is very clear: Insanity is not a get-out-of-jail free card.
For a while there it looked like Jared Loughner might not be competent to stand trial. His lawyers reported that he'd spit on them and thrown a chair. He ranted in a hearing. He also seemed convinced that Gabrielle Giffords had died. At first he tried to refuse medication, but he was diagnosed as schizophrenic and force-fed meds for a full year.
We're seeing similarly "insane" behavior from Aurora movie theater shooter James Holmes. He has spit at jail officers so many times he is forced to wear a face mask. He may not be faking it, either -- reportedly his psychiatrist at the University of Colorado reported her fears that he might be dangerous weeks before his attack. So even if he, like Jared Lee Loughner, was mentally insane at the time of his attack, he may face the same treatment Loughner did.
It will be interesting to see how Holmes is diagnosed, if he is given medication, and if so, what effect his treatment had. I think he should have to face the full weight of his actions with a clear head, fully aware of what he has done.
Do you think James Holmes' trial and treatment will be similar to Loughner's?
Image via CBS News
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Comments 4
I have to disagree with your last sentence. "I think he should have to face the full weight of his actions with a clear head, fully aware of what he has done."
If he is truly mentally ill, he had no control over his actions. Regardless of how he responds to medication or treatment, when he committed the crime he was not in his right mind. To sentence him as a person in full control of his faculties is cruel and unusual punishment, IMO. If he responds to treatment and medication, he will be, in essence, a completely different person than the one who committed the crime. If he is truly mentally ill, he needs to be treated long-term, not force-fed medication until he's mentally stable and aware and then punished because people want "justice."
I disagree completely. Every time someone commits to a crime. How come the first thing they plea is insanity. Umm no I don't believe these people has any type of insanity. As a parent you have to check on your kids and their behaviors. My friend has a son the same age as mine and even notice her son has weird behaviors. She even stated he might be schizo but none of the psychologist want to diagnose him cause of his age. She is fully aware of her son's behavior is not typically of a 5 yr old. In these men has been raise and seen by doctors and hasn't had any type of behaviors issues during school why diagnose them as insanity. That's something they play so they don't get the death penalty. They decided to kill and injure people cause they want to. So a person who robs a convenient store gets caught he pleas insanity. No he knew if he rob or hurt anyone there will be consequences to pay. Think about it. If I was a judge I would just say nope not insanity just guilty and prosecute them with life with no parole.
The majority of mental illnesses aren't diagnosed in adolescence. For many, it takes a serious crisis, whether it's a suicide attempt, hallucinations, or unfortunately, hurting others before they realize they need help. Mental illness is so disparaged in our country that people often brush off symptoms as either personality flaws or "just" something in their head instead of seeking treatment. Even for those who do realize they need help and get treatment, it can be month or years before they and their doctors find the right combination of medication and therapy to get them stable. There is a reason we have the insanity plea in this country; mental illness is real. It is serious. And it is not the fault of the person suffering from it.
While, yes, the insanity plea can be a way for people to try to get away with their crimes, a qualified psychiatrist will be able to tell whether they are actually insane or just trying to avoid jail. The few people who try to abuse the system are not a reason to disregard actual mental illness.