The American Bar Association Death Penalty Due Process Review Project has published its report, "Severe Mental Illness and the Death Penalty."
ABA Report To Be Tool For Change
From its Executive Summary (emphasis added):
Despite broader efforts to reform the criminal justice system’s approach to mental illness, individuals with these types of conditions can still be sentenced to death and executed. It is, therefore, now time to convert the ABA’s policy into a meaningful tool to help states pass laws that will establish clear standards and processes to prevent the execution of those with severe mental illness.
Focusing on Four Areas in Capital Case
It includes discussion of the following areas of a capital case where mental illness is an issue that is not provided "complete or sufficient protection":
- Competency to Stand Trial
- The Insanity Defense
- Mitigating Factors
- Competency to be Executed.
It’s less than 50 pages long. Definitely worth your time to read.