Legal Definitions - NGRI

NGRI, which stands for Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, is a legal defense used in criminal cases.

This defense asserts that while a defendant may have committed the physical act they are accused of, they should not be held criminally responsible because, at the time of the offense, they were suffering from a severe mental disease or defect. This condition must have profoundly impaired their mental capacity, preventing them from understanding the nature and quality of their actions, or from knowing that what they were doing was morally or legally wrong. It is a high bar to meet, requiring more than just a diagnosis of mental illness; it demands proof that the illness directly caused a lack of criminal culpability. If this defense is successful, the defendant is typically committed to a secure psychiatric facility for treatment rather than being sentenced to prison.

• Example 1: A person suffering from severe paranoid schizophrenia experiences a profound delusion that their next-door neighbor is a malevolent entity attempting to poison their family. Acting under this delusion, they break into the neighbor's home and destroy what they believe to be "toxic" food items.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the individual committed property damage, but their severe mental illness caused a delusion so powerful that they genuinely believed they were protecting their family from harm. They were unable to understand the wrongfulness of their actions or the reality of the situation due to their profound mental impairment, making the NGRI defense potentially applicable.

• Example 2: During an acute manic episode associated with bipolar disorder, an individual, who has no prior history of violence, assaults a stranger on the street, believing the stranger is a famous historical figure who has come to personally deliver a secret message to them, and the assault is a necessary ritual to receive it.

  Explanation: Here, the defendant's actions were a direct result of a severe mental health crisis (acute mania) that distorted their perception of reality. They were so profoundly impaired that they could not comprehend the nature of their violent act or that it was legally and morally wrong, thus potentially qualifying for a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.

• Example 3: A young adult with a severe intellectual disability, combined with a diagnosed psychotic disorder, is found wandering in a restricted area and, when confronted by security, reacts by striking an officer. Due to their profound cognitive and mental health impairments, they genuinely do not understand the concept of a restricted area, the authority of the officer, or the illegality and consequences of their physical response.

  Explanation: This individual's combined severe intellectual disability and psychotic disorder prevent them from forming the necessary criminal intent or understanding the wrongfulness of their actions. Their mental state renders them incapable of appreciating the nature of their conduct or its illegality, which aligns with the criteria for an NGRI defense.