Innocence McGill Annual Conference: Criminal or Victim?
Join us for a screening of the film Not Criminally Responsible, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session.
Free and open to all, however RSVP is required to: innocence.law [at] mail.mcgill.ca
About the Film, Not Criminally Responsible:
Gripped by psychosis, a troubled young man stabs a complete stranger six times. The young man, Sean Clifton, is deemed mentally ill, and therefore not criminally responsible for his actions. He is then confined to a forensic mental health institution, much to the relief of his victim, Julie Bouvier. Twelve years later, under a progressive treatment plan designed to reintegrate patients into society, Sean is living in the community under supervision, with surprising results. He’s seeking an absolute discharge. If he’s successful, he will no longer be required to take the anti-psychotic drugs that control his mental illness—and his potential for violence.
About the Panel:
In light of the complexities of moral culpability and the misconceptions surrounding mental illness, we will examine Section 16 of the Criminal Code of Canada, also known as the “insanity defence.” Section 16 states that persons suffering from mental disorders cannot, under certain conditions, be held criminally responsible for their acts. Are these provisions adequate? What are the impacts of Section 16 on the lives of individuals with mental illness and on the lives of their victims? Is the risk of wrongful conviction higher or lower in this context? Should these cases be treated analogous to other cases of factual innocence? Our panel members will shed light on these issues by drawing on their diverse areas of expertise.
Panelists
• John Kastner: four-time Emmy Award winner who has discussed mental health and criminal justice in his documentaries Out of Mind, Out of Sight, and NCR: Not Criminally Responsible
• Noella & Andy Bouvier: parents of the victim featured in Kastner's film Not Criminally Responsible
• Me Pierre Poupart: criminal defence lawyer, with extensive experience in NCR cases in Quebec
• Dr Anne Crocker: professor of psychiatry at McGill University, whose research areas include criminality among individuals with severe mental illness and associated criminal process issues.
A cocktail reception will follow.
A request for accreditation as a continuing legal education activity has been made to the Barreau du Québec.
