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Simple English definitions for legal terms

diminished capacity

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A quick definition of diminished capacity:

Diminished capacity is a legal defense used in some places where a person claims they couldn't have intended to commit a crime because of a mental impairment or disease. It's different from an insanity defense because it doesn't result in a verdict of not guilty, but rather a conviction of a lesser offense. For example, if someone is charged with murder but successfully pleads diminished capacity, they may be convicted of manslaughter instead. The defense is based on the idea that some people are incapable of meeting the mental state required for a specific crime.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Diminished capacity is a legal defense theory that argues that a person, due to unique factors, could not meet the mental state required for a specific intent crime. It is different from the "not guilty by reason of insanity" defense because it only results in the defendant being convicted of a lesser offense, rather than being found not guilty and committed to a mental institution.

For example, if someone is charged with second-degree murder, which requires the intent to cause the death of a person, but they have a mental impairment or disease that makes them incapable of forming that intent, they could use a diminished capacity defense to argue that they should be convicted of a lesser offense, such as second-degree manslaughter, which only requires recklessness.

One famous example of a diminished capacity defense is the "Twinkie defense" in the 1979 case California v. White. Dan White, a former city supervisor, shot and killed the mayor of San Francisco and another city supervisor. His defense argued that a diet of only junk food had created a chemical imbalance in his brain, making him unable to premeditate murder. The jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter instead of first-degree murder.

The federal sentencing guidelines allow for a plea of diminished capacity if a "significantly reduced mental capacity contributed substantially to the commission of the offense." This can result in a reduced sentence, but not a "not guilty" verdict.

Example: John is charged with second-degree murder for killing his wife. However, John has a history of severe mental illness and was in a psychotic state at the time of the killing. His defense team argues that he was incapable of forming the intent required for second-degree murder due to his mental illness, and instead should be convicted of a lesser offense, such as manslaughter. This is an example of a diminished capacity defense.

Explanation: John's mental illness is a unique factor that could make him incapable of forming the intent required for second-degree murder. By using a diminished capacity defense, his defense team is arguing that he should be convicted of a lesser offense that does not require that intent, such as manslaughter. If successful, this defense could result in a reduced sentence for John.

dilution (trademark) | diminution in value

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Dkk
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SEO is big money
2016 pushed the conservative party into populism irreversibly
Dkk
19:43
Maybe, but if this is populism, then every election is populist.
19:43
@Dkk: yeah register 1 website and every swinging tom dick and harry calls/emails/texts to 'help with seo'. like bruh, if YOU found it, what i am doing is working
Dkk
19:43
Indeed!
19:48
wasp, i think people are hopeful for a gov who at least attempts to care about the common man
MIAMI A
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:55
How does one know if they are UR1 or UR2?
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:56
CONGRATS MACAQUE!
TY
got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
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