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PTSD in Sentence Mitigation

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Assessing Trauma in Forensic Contexts

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Abstract

This chapter aims to provide attorneys and forensic mental health examiners with a look at the world of sentence mitigation – in general, first, and then with a focus on the place of trauma, and posttraumatic stress disorder, in sentence-mitigation deliberations. Our goal is to alert all frontline forensic professionals to the place disabling mental and emotional conditions – especially posttraumatic stress disorder – should hold in sentencing deliberations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Private Practice of Psychology, New York, NY, USA

    Thomas A. Caffrey

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  1. Thomas A. Caffrey
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology, St. John’s University, Queens, NY, USA

    Rafael Art. Javier

  2. Columbia University/Teachers College, New York, NY, USA

    Elizabeth A. Owen

  3. Lamb & Maddux, LLC, Hackensack, NJ, USA

    Jemour A. Maddux

Appendices

Appendix A. Title 18: Crimes and Criminal Procedure

§ 3553. Imposition of a Sentence

  1. (a)

    FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN IMPOSING A SENTENCE. The court shall impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to comply with the purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The court, in determining the particular sentence to be imposed, shall consider—

    1. (1)

      the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant;

    2. (2)

      the need for the sentence imposed –

      1. (A)

        to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense;

      2. (B)

        to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct;

      3. (C)

        to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant; and

      4. (D)

        to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner;

    3. (3)

      the kinds of sentences available;

    4. (4)

      the kinds of sentence and the sentencing range established for – (A) the applicable category of offense committed by the applicable category of defendant as set forth in the guidelines – (i) issued by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to sect. 994(a)(1) of title 28, United States Code, subject to any amendments made to such guidelines by act of Congress (regardless of whether such amendments have yet to be incorporated by the Sentencing Commission into amendments issued under sect. 994(p) of title 28); and (ii) that, except as provided in sect. 3742(g), are in effect on the date the defendant is sentenced ( U.S. House of Representatives, 2005 ).

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Caffrey, T.A. (2020). PTSD in Sentence Mitigation. In: Javier, R., Owen, E., Maddux, J. (eds) Assessing Trauma in Forensic Contexts. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33106-1_5

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