the Neuro-deveLopmental-Psychiatric continuum, Epigenetics &the Criminal Law

7/2/2024

Val's Take/Conjecture

Somebody is going to make a great documentary about the mess in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychiatry in 25 years.
In the meantime, we need to start educating ourselves about large scientific anomalies that are raising reasonable doubt about how we handle situations involving People with Neuro-Developmental Disorders not only in the Criminal Law but also Homelessness.

It is this century that researchers refer to the Neurodevelopmental - Psychiatric Continuum and that is considered a significant Paradigm Shift.

Ultimately we need to get rid of Punishment not Safety -- and that Safety Burden will often be higher than that imposed by punishment.

As biomarkers become more and more available, it is going to be harder and harder to deny people the supports they need.

Additionally, I think as more directly practical and helpful supports are identified, more people will be interested in "treatment."

EPIGENETICS

The Epigenome in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (2021)

EXPOSOME

Exposome of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Taiwanese children: exploring risks of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (2021)

INFLAMMASOME

NEURODEVELOPMENTAL-PSYCHIATRIC CONTINUUM

PRECISION MEDICINE

Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Criminality, and Criminal Responsibility (2022)

{S}pecific training in NDs {Neurodevelopmental Disorders} is limited both in general psychiatry residencies and forensic psychiatry fellowships, this topic represents a common practice gap among forensic examiners.

The paper above, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, begins to raise some important issues regarding Neuro-Developmental Disorders and Criminal Justice.

Additionally, medical assessments of the law tend to be simplistic and timid and a deeper analysis asking tougher questions is not so much side-stepped as not appreciated --- which is perhaps understandable.

On the other hand, psychiatry seems far behind the research in its own domain -- that is surprising until one realizes most medical professionals are not on top of the research.

Further, most attorneys are not looking to become experts in the scientific research --- so if Forensic Psychiatry is behind so too are the attorneys who rely on its practitioners.

While the authors missed a lot, this nonetheless is HUGE.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the Criminal Law (and Homelessness) are the Elephant in the Room.