What is Criminal Acts?

January 1, 2008

Alzheimer patients sometimes act in ways that bring them into conflict with criminal authorities. Such actions as wandering the streets and forgetting to wear proper clothing may attract the attention of police and other law enforcement personnel. In the criminal law there is generally a requirement that an individual must demonstrate criminal intent and know that what he is doing is a crime. If he does not know what he is doing then his legal responsibility diminishes. The consideration of intent will not prevent the police from arresting or detaining an Alzheimer patient, however, nor will they reduce the family’s need to try to prevent such events from occurring, but they may relieve the family of some of the anxiety that such behavior may generate.

Posted in Legal Consideration