Insane Inmates: A Case Study

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Pages: 2

In 1986 Supreme Court ruled that insane inmates could not be executed, but should it be legal to execute sane individuals if they are only sane because of the medication they are forced to take?
In 1997, while incarcerated and awaiting execution, Charles Singleton was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was removed from death row (Drew, 2004). Singleton was ordered to take medication that reduced the symptoms of the mental illness and he was once again placed on death row (Drew, 2004). Charles Singleton was subsequently executed January 6, 2004 after the courts determined that Singleton was taking the medication voluntarily (Drew, 2004).
Just as those with intellectual disabilities cannot be executed, mentally ill individuals should