Psychiatria pre prax 1/2016

The evaluation of the mental status in the criminal procedure and the providing psychiatric care

The compendious article describes some procedural aspects of the evaluation of the mental status in the criminal procedure in Czech Republic. It defines the basic terms as insanity, mental disorder, forensic expertise, institute expertise, observation of mental state, prejudice, forensic treatment, protective detention etc. The article explains the difference of the evaluation of the juvenile offender, the evaluation of the credibility of the witness, the evaluation of the mental injury and some other practical aspects of the forensic evaluation. The article describes the legal possibilities of the access to medical records by the experts, the criminal police and the court. New law about crime victims imposes some new duties on medical staff.

Keywords: forensic expert, evaluation, mental disorder, criminal law