Gathering research

Last week, I had my first mentor visit during which Dr. Correa and I began discussing my plans for original work and what I had already been researching. She was impressed with the research and work I had already done over legal insanity, and suggested that I continued that work over the week between our visits. I was able to finish that piece that I had began analyzing, and moved on to collect more information on the areas where I was confused or just needed to know more.

Over the week, I familiarized myself with the principles of each of the four standards of the insanity defense and also educated myself on the legal implications of the “diminished capacity” principle, mens rea, “guilty but mentally ill,” as well as the jurisprudence of it all. Specifically, I learned about how these defenses align with the constitutional rights of citizens of due process and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. I came to really appreciate my experience in pre-law studies, because it directly relates to what I am pursuing right now.

Dr. Correa emailed me a great publication that she contributed to for me to read over. It details the evolution of malingering detection techniques. I plan to discuss all of this newly absorbed information with her when I visit her on Monday.