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Simple English definitions for legal terms
insanity plea
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A quick definition of insanity plea:
An insanity plea is a defense used in criminal law where the accused claims that a mental disorder caused them to commit the crime. If successful, the defendant may not be acquitted but instead be found "not guilty by reason of insanity" and committed to a mental institution. This defense is different from others and is not commonly used. There are different tests used to determine if the defendant was legally insane at the time of the crime. One such test is the McNaghten Rules. Another is the irresistible-impulse test. A newer defense is the black-rage insanity defense, which is based on an African-American's violent outburst caused by racial tensions.
A more thorough explanation:
The insanity plea is a defense used in criminal law that alleges a mental disorder caused the accused to commit the crime. It is also known as the insanity defense.
If successful, the defendant may not be acquitted but instead receive a special verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity," which usually leads to their commitment to a mental institution.
There are different tests used to determine if the defendant was legally insane at the time of the crime, including the McNaghten Rules, Substantial-Capacity Test, Irresistible-Impulse Test, Durham Rule, and Appreciation Test.
One example of an insanity defense is the black-rage insanity defense, which is based on an African-American's violent eruption of anger induced at least partly by racial tensions. This defense was first used in the mid-1990s.
For instance, if an African-American person was charged with assault after being provoked by racial slurs and insults, they may use the black-rage insanity defense to argue that their mental state was affected by the racial tensions and they were not fully responsible for their actions.