Legal Defenses and Insanity

These flashcards cover key legal concepts related to defenses in criminal law, particularly focusing on mental health issues and their implications in legal contexts.

Abuse excuse

A legal defense where defendants claim their crimes resulted from their own victimization, thus arguing for diminished responsibility.

Civil commitment

A separate hearing following a 'not guilty by reason of insanity' finding to determine if an individual poses a danger and should be institutionalized.

Competence to stand trial

The requirement that a defendant must have the ability to assist their attorney and understand the trial proceedings.

Diminished capacity

A defense allowing psychiatric testimony to show a defendant's mental disturbance reduces their ability to form criminal intent.

Duress

A defense where a crime is committed due to the threat of imminent death or bodily harm, not allowing for homicide defenses.

Durham product test

A standard determining that an individual is not criminally responsible if their unlawful act was a product of mental disease or defect.

Entrapment

A defense occurring when the government persuades someone to commit a crime they were not predisposed to commit.

Guilty but mentally ill (GBMI)

A verdict indicating a defendant was mentally ill but not legally insane at the crime time, leading to a standard criminal sentence.

Ignorantia legis non excusat

A Latin phrase meaning 'ignorance of the law is no excuse'; a principle of common law presuming individuals know the law.

Infancy

A defense based on age where children under 7 are exempt from criminal liability, with presumption limitations for ages 7 to 14.

Insanity defense

A legal argument asserting a defendant should not be held responsible if their mental state impaired their understanding of their actions.

Irresistible impulse test

A test that excuses defendants who could not control their conduct due to a mental disease, even if they knew their actions were wrong.

M’Naghten test

A test determining legal insanity, focusing on whether the defendant knew the nature of the act or understood it was wrong.

Mistake of fact

A defense claiming a mistaken belief negates criminal intent, such as taking an umbrella mistakenly believed to be one’s own.

Mistake of law

A defense based on a misunderstanding or ignorance of the law, with limited exceptions.

Per curiam

A Latin phrase meaning 'by the court', referring to decisions issued by an entire appellate court.

Substantial capacity test

A standard stating a person is not responsible if, due to mental disease, they lack substantial capacity to appreciate their conduct's wrongfulness.

Voluntary intoxication

Generally not a defense for criminal liability, historically considered for specific intent crimes but often disregarded in contemporary law.