Mad or bad? psychologically assessing criminal competence

Summary: Sane or insane? Court verdicts and parole decisions alike often hinge on that single crucial question. This program explores the intricacies of psychiatric evaluation and parole risk assessment with forensic psychologist Jeremy Coid, clinical psychologists, a probation officer, and others. The Yorkshire Ripper serial murders, the London Nail Bomber case, the Ipswich Rapist case, the 1999 attack on a London church congregation by a naked sword-wielding man, and a parole review involving a composite serial pedophile-a case that neatly illustrates the challenge of balancing society's right for safety against a convict's right to be treated fairly-are profiled.