Mental Health and the Law
Paper instructions:
PRIMAL FEAR & NUTS – MENTAL HEALTH AND THE LAW – ESSAY RUBRIC
***Watch 2 movies: Primal Fear (featuring Richard Gere), and Nuts (featuring Barbara Streisand)***
? Think critically about issues related to relevant legal doctrines by addressing issues presented in the two movies
? Evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of the “treatments” or intervention in each case
? Introduce characters (include significant quotes)
? State similarities and differences between characters and their situations
? List the major mental health laws we learned and apply them to the cases in the movies
? Diagnosis main characters with mental illness(es) based on present symptoms and backed by research sources
? Apply theories of causation (2+ but one must be psychoanalytic) to characters
? State what you think should be done based on mental illness(es) and research related to efficacy of outcome for the 2 cases
? Present 5 studies throughout the paper that were used to support the content and reference them
? APA formatting:
? Title page
? Abstract
? Running head
? References
? In-text citations
? Guidelines:
? You may use topic headings
? An estimate of the length is about 15 pages but there is no required length as long as it answers the questions asked
? The focus of this paper is on laws related to mental health
Mental health issues often interact with legal policies. This is especially true when considering competency to stand trial; prosecution limitations due to insanity;
and the right to commit someone with mental health issues to treatment facilities. This assignment asks you to think critically about issues related to relevant legal
doctrines by addressing issues presented in two movies: Nuts and Primal Fear. In reviewing these films you are also asked to carry concepts from the last unit about
treatment over into this analysis by evaluating the effectiveness/efficacy of the “treatments” or psychological interventions demonstrated in each case.
Criteria 1-3 points 4-7 points 8-10 points *
Introduction of characters Main characters (Stampler & Draper) are briefly introduced. Good elaboration of plot as it relates to the primary characters-
Stampler and Draper. Elaboration of Stampler and Draper with clear discussion of characters as their case unfolds in the movie. A significant quote from each
during the movie that illustrates the primary issue for each.
Similarities/differences of cases Basic statement of fact that both involved with the courts. Presentation of case being tried with notation of how the cases
are similar and different. Presentation of similarities in cases being tried and apparent similarities in case history of both Draper and Stampler.
Summary of laws that apply List of laws presented in text. List of laws presented in text with definition of the laws. List of laws presented in text with
clear reference to how they apply to the cases presented.
Application of laws to cases presented in the movies Simple statement saying they apply again with list of laws. Application of laws correctly explained but
different aspects of the law not considered. Application of the laws correctly applied with awareness that discussion needs to move beyond murder trial. Issues are
not only about guilty of murder when both movies are considered.
Mental illness (or not) of primary characters. Limited reference to mental illness Clear statement of mental illness but limited clarity relating mental illness
to symptoms noted in the stories of each character. Clear statement of mental illness (es) thought to apply with clear support from symptoms identified in the
movie and support from research gathered from peer-reviewed sources.
Theories of causation of the mental illnesses defined for the main characters in the movie. Limited use of one theory to explain cases with incorrect application
of the theory. Two theories applied with correct application of concepts to the cases Two or more theories correctly applied to the characters with one of the
theories being psychoanalytic. Application to characters contains clear reference to critical aspects of psychoanalytic theory that applies in each case.
Critical analysis of what should be done. Brief statement accepting or rejecting outcomes in the movies. Clear statement of what should be done based in support
related to mental illnesses identified. Clear support of what should be done based on mental illness and peer-reviewed research related to efficacy of outcome for
cases presented.
Efficacy of treatment and/or psychological intervention in each case Limited discussion of role of mental health professionals in each case. Adequate discussion of
role of mental health professions with clear reference to examples of movies. Strong discussion of efficacy and role of mental health professionals with full
discussion of where these were evident ( or not evident in case of efficacy) in the stories presented
References-peer reviewed studies Five studies listed in reference section. APA format not correct. Five studies listed in reference section with correct
APA formatting. Five studies presented in the reference section in correct APA formatting. Studies used to support paper content and correctly referenced using APA
format.
APA formatting Limited use of APA formatting Basic APA formatting but no title page, abstract, or correct referencing in the body of the paper. Correct use of
APA including title page, abstract, running head, reference section, and referencing correctly within the body of the paper.
TOTAL POINTS 100
• * Previous assignments included peer-reviewed studies on both murder and efficacy of treatment. You should be able to use these in this paper. This is not
required. You can, however, find new studies as well.
• Topic headings in the paper can be helpful. You can use these to present materials in your paper if you like.
• Paper length: There is no required paper length for this assignment. An estimate is about 15 pages. The paper is not graded on length. It will be graded on
the quality of what is presented.
• Recall the focus of this paper is the chapter on laws related to mental health. The paper must clearly address these concepts at a minimum to receive a
passing grade.
