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Should Tourette syndrome justify a reduced sentence for child porn offenses?

By Douglas A. Berman

The question in the title of his post is prompted by this interesting local press report on a federal sentencing here. The piece is headlined "Defense cites Tourette syndrome in case of New Castle man," and here are some of the details: A Lawrence County man became attracted to underage girls and collected child pornography because Tourette syndrome and an isolated upbringing limited his ability to interact with women his age, a forensic psychologist said Thursday during a sentencing hearing in Pittsburgh federal court. Kelly Hardy, 40, of New Castle grew up in a "petri dish of dysfunction" and his parents ignored doctor's recommendations for counseling and treatment because "they don't talk to psychiatrists," said Jolie Brams, a Columbus, Ohio, psychologist...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on August 13, 2010 (boomark / email).