معرفی
Tova Bennet is an Associate Senior Lecturer in the Department of Law at Lund University, with additional roles as a Visiting Research Fellow in Health Law and Law and Vulnerabilities. Her research focuses on criminal responsibility, particularly examining the intersection of mental health and legal systems. She explores how Swedish criminal law operates without an insanity defense, analyzing cases involving severe mental disorders or disabilities. Current projects include studying the special release inquiry process and collaborating with forensic medicine experts. Bennet teaches criminal law principles and interdisciplinary courses in forensic psychiatry, emphasizing philosophical and psychological dimensions. She actively engages with policy actors and interest groups on mental health issues in criminal justice contexts. Key collaborations include the Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health at Gothenburg University and international researchers. Bennet has received the 2020 Juridiska Föreningens pedagogiska pris for her teaching excellence.
Her research spans empirical legal analysis, psychiatric evaluation methodologies, and human rights implications of criminal sanctions. Notable works include examining compulsory psychiatric treatment as punishment and the abolition of insanity defense in Sweden. Bennet’s interdisciplinary approach bridges law, psychiatry, and ethics, addressing contemporary challenges in criminal justice and vulnerable populations. She participates in public discourse on criminal policy reforms and contributes to policy consultations, such as the 2024 SOU report on societal protection measures.
Bennet leads projects funded by the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, focusing on forensic psychiatric evaluations and offenders with intellectual disabilities. Her work highlights systemic issues like long-term incarceration justifications and legal accountability for mentally ill offenders. She regularly presents at conferences and seminars, addressing topics like insanity defense abolition and the role of insight and intent in criminal responsibility.
