powers of courts when combined with the intellectualised fantasies of the middle class elites can indeed push these lists into the realm of the 'total institution' (which focault and others have described, the medicalised hospital being the prime model). From my perspective, when that occurs, it is actually anti-therapeutic, even if the 'problem' is solved (for the rest of us, not the accused). The prime advantage of holding all this before a court rather than (say) a medical board is that there are some basic protections in a court system. If a humanist judicial officer is on the bench, they might even be exercised. And, of course, the increasing practice of drugging up prisoners (excusable on 'health' grounds though the main gain is short term compliance) makes that an increasingly less attractive alternative to the court systems described above. Trent Jackson : 27 Aug 2011 6:46:51am Anyone here a fan of Judge Judy? I am willing to bet that a lot of doctors out there are keen to diagnose her with some type of mental illness, simply because they may find her to be a bit "over the top sometimes" I don't like the person so there has to be something wrong with them? -- that is absolutely absurd. Look at the people that she deals with? Very few people in this world have the ability to place themselves into another's shoes. I know I'd have a mild attitude problem if I were doing her job. So perhaps you don't