Louis Theroux is back on BBC with two brand new documentaries titled 'By Reason of Insanity', where the celebrated journalist will immerse himself into the world of Ohio's State Psychiatric Hospital, meeting patients who have committed crimes whilst in the grip of severe mental illness.
Credit: BBC
Because of their conditions, they have been found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, and ordered by the court to a maximum security psychiatric facility to receive treatment, with the hope that one day they'll be reintegrated into society.
Spending time with the small subsection of sufferers who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law in America, Louis will bear witness to the extremes of the human condition and experience in attempts to understand just how and why society cares for some of its most vulnerable and dangerous members.
The first episode of the two-parter will see Louis spend time with patients who are attempting to come to terms with the crimes they've committed, as well as the clinicians who are trusted in helping making them safe. Louis will delve deep into the issue and investigate the difficult question of when a patient with a serious crime history is ready to be returned to the outside world.
Part two sees Louis spend time with those who have personalities so intertwined with their illness that it makes their treatment a lot more difficult. Throughout this, he'll examine the grey area between medical symptoms and criminal actions whilst investigating just how we define insanity.
Part One will air on Sunday March 22, with Part Two following on Sunday March 29 on BBC Two.
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