Been reading some crime stories and keep coming across the term “insanity defense.” I have a general idea that it has something to do with claiming that the defendant wasn’t in their right mind when they committed the crime, but I’m not sure how it actually works.
Can someone explain what the insanity defense is in simple terms? Specifically, I’d like to know:
How is it defined legally?
What kind of proof is needed to support this defense?
What happens if someone is found not guilty by reason of insanity?
The defense of insanity is used to argue that a person is not accountable for their acts because they are mentally ill or unable.
Even a fully sane individual can attempt to plead insanity, but doing so may involve perjury and will undoubtedly result in their loss. In most states, however, the defendant must notify the prosecution beforehand and consent to an examination.
Are there cases where a sane individual was declared unfit for prosecution? I think I’ve heard of a situation where one was declared that a defendant was mentally deterred at the time they committed a crime, this was a sane individual and all this left me so confused. Do you mind sharing more please?