Course Description
In early 2023 in Newport News, VA, a six-year-old child brought his mother’s firearm to his elementary school. He threatened multiple children and left his teacher with a severe chest wound which required intensive care and necessitated her resignation from teaching so that she could complete months of rehabilitation. At the completion of the investigation, the Newport News Police Department declined to charge the child despite concluding that this was an intentional act citing impaired competency of the accused due to the child’s age. This panel presentation will examine the case in depth, with particular attention paid to warning signs preceding the shooting and risk factors that increased this child’s risk of violent behaviors. We will also review similar cases
and address the legal precedence for prosecuting young children in violent crimes. Finally, we will examine psychosocial development of children and the particular role it plays in forensics and the juvenile system.
and address the legal precedence for prosecuting young children in violent crimes. Finally, we will examine psychosocial development of children and the particular role it plays in forensics and the juvenile system.
Speakers
Savannah L. Woodward, MD
Graham Lambert, MD,
Michael Ricciardi, MD
Graham Lambert, MD,
Michael Ricciardi, MD
Accreditation Statement
The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Learning Objectives
Understand the legal precedence in the context of psychosocial development in assessing competency and criminal responsibility in children.
Understand the legal precedence in the context of psychosocial development in assessing competency and criminal responsibility in children.
Disclosures
All meeting planners (Program and Education Committee Members) in control of content for the meeting have signed disclosures indicating that they have no relevant financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
All presenters have also signed disclosures indicating that they have no relevan financial relationships with any ineligible companies.
