Therapeutic reduction is the belief that an aliment, typically an aliment of mental health is responsible for a criminal action taken by an individual. This belief in a universal application essentially justifies any and all crimes under the insanity defense.

The offender would not be culpable for the crime committed since it would be caused by an illness which is out of the control of the offender. The offender would likely also be deprived of due process and would be confided to a mental health institution instead of a jail or prison.

To some degree I agree that a large percentage of offenders have mental illness, you cannot excuse all crimes solely as the result of mental illness. For example a drug addict, under the influence of a narcotic commits a homicide. Clearly, the offender has an addiction and should be allowed medical treatment. However, it would not be prudent to release the person to a hospital for treatment and allow their eventual release back into the community – for there is a likelihood they could commit another homicide. In fact, not all drug addicts commit homicides, in this situation the illness does not excuse the crime.

APA Citation:
Smith, Nathan. M. (2006). Therapeutic Reduction.
Retrieved September 8, 2008, from http://www.computer-forensic-technician.com/wordpress/therapeutic-reduction/.