U/CL Pathfinders

INSANITY  DEFENSE

 

 DEFINITION: “An affirmative defense alleging that a mental disorder caused the accused to commit the crime.” (Black's Law Dictionary)

 

NARROW THE SUBJECT:

·         What impact would elimination of the insanity defense have on the legal system?

·         Is justice served by jailing a person who cannot distinguish between right and wrong?

·         Would a “guilty but insane” verdict permit justice to be served?

·         Is it useful or just to punish someone who is mentally ill?

·         Should mental illness be a relevant factor in a trial?

·         Can insane people be rehabilitated? If so, should they be tried for the crime once they have been rehabilitated?

·         Are psychiatrists capable of determining who is insane?

·         How can psychiatrists offer opinions concerning insanity, which are totally contrary?

·         Has the insanity defense become a "get out of jail free" card?

 

LINCC SUBJECT HEADINGS: Insanity—Jurisprudence; Mental Health Laws—United States; Competency to Stand Trial

 

SPECIALIZED SOURCES SHELVED IN THE REFERENCE COLLECTION:

Encyclopedia of Psychology & Law	REF K 346 .E53 2008
Encyclopedia of American Civil Rights & Liberties	REF KF 4748 .E53 2006
West’s Encyclopedia of American Law	REF KF 154 .W47
Criminal Justice	REF KF 9214.5 .C75 2006

 

AVAILABLE AT THE REFERENCE DESK:

CQ Researcher: "Rethinking the Death Penalty" 11/01/2001
Encyclopedia of American Crime,     pp. 360-361

Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice   Vol. 2, “Excuse: Insanity”

Florida Statutes: Chapter 775 "Insanity Defense"

Issues & Controversies    "Insanity Defense Update" 4/26/02  

 

ELECTRONIC INDEXES:

Academic Search Complete	Expanded Academic ASAP	OmniFile Full Text Select Edition
Criminal Justice Periodicals Index

 

FULL-TEXT NEWSPAPERS: America's Newspapers

 

SUGGESTED INTERNET SITES:

Cornell University Legal Information Institute	http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Insanity_defense
PBS Frontline: A Crime of Insanity	http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/crime/etc/links.html
CourtTV: Crime Library	http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/insanity/1.html

 

CITING YOUR SOURCES:

University/College Library Citing Electronic Resources

http://ucl.broward.edu/Cite_Your_Sources.htm

JM Rev 12/08  |dc| ck

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