Thesis

In 1986, Alvin Bernard Ford successfully appealed for a stay of execution following his trial, where his mental capabilities and fitness to stand trial were disscussed. Ford isn’t an isolated case when it comes to debating whether or not the constitution bans the execution of those suffering from mental illness. Rather, mental capabilities and psycological issues weigh heavily on nearly every death penalty case in the United States to this day. The case did help to shift opinions regarding the execution of defendants with diminished mental faculties, but in the absence of established standards for such rulings, these decisions continue to be made on a case by case basis.