Mindhunter Research May Be Used in Criminal and Civil Cases
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Books and Media where input from forensic mental health clinicians pillar his relationship with Sadoff. “I believe that [Dr. have informed her day-to-day interactions with cli- Sadoff’s] career is a template for forensic psychiatrists ents and helped serve justice in a compassionate in each of these areas of social policy. His work con- manner. Collaboration among psychiatry and tinues to be an inspiration for all of us” (p 258). So, other fields is a predominant theme throughout too, is this book. the text, and particularly in the section on “Foren- sic Psychiatry and Other Professions.” In this Reference manner, it appeals to a wide audience of mental 1. Levin A: Founder of modern forensic psychiatry honored with health clinicians, forensic practitioners, lawyers, Guttmacher Award. Psychiatric News 52:13(14), 2017 and educators, among others. Jennifer L. Piel, MD, JD The section on “Future Directions” will appeal to Seattle, WA readers interested in neurolaw and the developing role for neuroscience in court cases. Consistent with Disclosures of financial or other potential conflicts of interest: None. other book sections, the section begins with a brief historical summary of the use of neuroscience-based expertise in medicolegal contexts. Reviewed are re- cent developments in neuroscience research and how Mindhunter research may be used in criminal and civil cases. The Screenplay by Joe Penhall, Jennifer Haley, Erin Levy, last chapter in the section clearly discusses the current and Carly Wray. Produced by David Fincher, Charlize limitations on the use of neuroscience research in Theron, Joe Penhall, et al. A web television series on individual cases. Netflix. The first of 10 episodes in Season One aired Despite spanning such breadth of forensic psychi- on October 13, 2017. atry, from the early beginnings as a specialty to the To understand the “artist,” you must study his “art”...andif future of neuroscience research, the book is cohesive you want to understand the criminal mind, you must go in that it allows the reader to follow the field through directly to the source and learn to decipher what he tells its development. If there is a criticism, it is that the you. John E. Douglas1 authors, collectively, may be too positive about the evolution and trajectory of forensic psychiatry and Mindhunter is based on the book Mindhunter: Inside partnerships across medical and legal disciplines. Al- the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by John E. though there is good reason to be proud of the field, Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The series has been some chapters may impress upon readers that there renewed for a second season. The story is set in 1977 are few challenges left to overcome. However, with and chronicles two Federal Bureau of Investigation an increasing population of justice-involved patients (FBI) agents’ odyssey into the nascent field of crim- and increased referrals for medicolegal assessments, it inal psychology and profiling at a time when the term is important to recognize that there is more work to “serial killer” was not yet in widespread use. The two be done. agents, Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Sadoff begins the book with a dedication to his Tench (Holt McCallany), are based on FBI agents mentors, teachers, colleagues, students and those John E. Douglas and Robert K. Ressler, respectively. served by forensic psychiatry. With his passing in Both are now real-life profiling legends who, along April 2017, it cannot go unrecognized that the chap- with other greats, such as Roy Hazelwood, are cred- ter authors, through their strong contributions to the ited with pioneering the field of psychological profil- text as well as some personal acknowledgments in ing and its current evolution: behavioral analysis. the book, honor Sadoff and his contributions to the Though ostensibly a crime thriller, the series’ maca- field of forensic psychiatry. In concluding the chap- bre subject matter causes many to find that it strays ter on “Forensic Psychiatry and the Law: Litigation, into the horror genre. Despite the gruesome subject Advocacy, Scholarship and Teaching,” Michael L. matter, on-screen violence and gore are minimal, Perlin, JD, shares his view on the relationship be- save for the split-second flashes of bloodied corpses in tween psychiatry and the law. He identifies four core the opening sequence. Much of the dialogue between pillars to this relationship: litigation, teaching, schol- the FBI agents and serial killers is taken directly from arship, and advocacy. He adds as a fifth personal real transcripts. Volume 46, Number 1, 2018 133 Book and Media The first episode cold opens with a standoff, where his sidearm, and absolve the correctional facility of Agent Ford is negotiating with the armed hostage liability should Kemper harm him. As the corrections taker, who is revealed to be a psychotic man, non- officer spells out the various ways that harm could compliant with medication, who has developed a de- manifest (“murder, assault, general abuse, or being lusion that he is becoming invisible. Despite his de- dragged into a hostage situation”) Agent Ford’s facial lusion, the man’s impetus for taking five people expression reveals that he may not have fully appre- hostage is revealed to be a fight with his wife. Despite ciated the situation in which he currently finds him- Agent Ford’s best efforts, not everyone survives the self. Ford is then led deeper into the belly of the standoff. Although the FBI declares the outcome a correctional facility to conduct the interview in a success, Ford is visibly unsatisfied, as he is acutely sequence that should appear relatively familiar to fo- aware of his lack of insight into the mind of the rensic psychiatrists who have evaluated criminal de- hostage taker. Desperate for answers and surrounded fendants and prisoners in correctional facilities. by colleagues lacking in curiosity, Ford starts to audit Eventually, Kemper is led into the room by correc- classes at the University of Virginia (UVA) on crim- tional officers, with the ominous thuds of his foot- inal psychology and is immediately hooked. He be- steps and clanking of his shackles preceding his ap- comes obsessed with understanding this new breed of pearance. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches and weighing murderer: one who does not kill for the advancement 300 pounds, the bespectacled Kemper has an over- of traditional criminal interests, such as murderers whelming presence and dwarfs everyone in the room. connected with organized crime. When he informs Britton’s Kemper is arguably the star of the show. his superior of his new interest, he is chastised and He flawlessly demonstrates the traits and demeanor told that the study of psychology is frowned upon. one would expect of a psychopathic necrophile2 who Ford tries discussing his new-found interest with the has murdered 10 people. Using his powers of cha- professors at the UVA and finds that they are not risma and manipulation, Kemper’s agenda is to make fond of speaking to agents of law enforcement. This sure Ford realizes he is not only physically, but also dynamic appears representative of the long-standing, intellectually, inferior, “You can spell oeuvre, can’t progress-hampering lack of collaboration between you?” Kemper’s chef d’oeuvre, however, is not a paint- law enforcement and mental health. ing or a sculpture, but rather the series of eight grisly Isolated, yet driven, Ford bumps into fellow Agent necrophilia-driven murders he committed before Bill Tench in the cafeteria. Tench is employed in the turning himself in to the police out of boredom. One Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) of the FBI (which in of Mindhunter’s most stomach-churning moments is real life evolved into what is now called the Behav- arguably when Kemper matter of factly explains the ioral Analysis Unit), and travels the country speaking difference in the mechanics of sodomizing a corpse to local law enforcement regarding criminal behavior versus tracheoesophageal sex with a severed head. and motives. Ford is nonetheless frustrated by his Despite the brutality of his crimes, Kemper appears new “road school” gig. He does not believe that the to have a surprising capacity for introspection. He duo has an adequate understanding of deviant psy- partially attributes his intact insight to his six-year chology to truly assist the law enforcement officers commitment at the Atascadero State Hospital at age whom they encounter in the classes in solving the lust 15, after he was adjudicated not guilty by reason of murders on which they are consulted. During one insanity (NGRI) for his grandparents’ murders. Agent such outing, Ford stumbles upon an opportunity to Ford meets with Kemper several times throughout the speak with a particularly gregarious prison inmate, course of the series. Over time, Kemper’s charm and convicted of numerous lust murders. manipulative abilities weaken Agent Ford’s boundaries. Edmund Kemper III (played by Cameron Britton, Ford begins to relate to Kemper as less of a subject and who bears a striking resemblance to the real-life more of a friend. Kemper) is the first subject that Agent Ford inter- After his encounter with Kemper, Ford and Tench views alone, because Agent Tench finds the idea of are called into their supervisor, Agent Shepard’s speaking with “The Coed Killer” Kemper far less (Cotter Smith), office. Shepard is furious to learn appealing than golfing. There is a darkly humorous that an FBI agent was secretly meeting with a “se- scene preceding the interview, in which a corrections quence killer” such as Kemper. Tench, who has more officer informs Agent Ford that he must surrender experience and political tact than Ford (Ford is actu- 134 The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Books and Media ally comically inept at navigating bureaucratic poli- contempt, Ford continues to be captivated by them.