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bowman81 · M
Yes. It is a fact of law in my state anyway. It is only a plea that must be proven in court. It is easy to make a plea. It isn't easy to convince a judge or jury that you were criminally insane and unable to form the requisite unlawful intent to be held responsible.
The facts are that while many may assert the insanity plea very few are successful in being found not guilty by reason of insanity and if they are......they are locked up until found sane.
During my rather long career in law enforcement I only had two cases of suspects being found not guilty by reason of insanity. As far as I know both are still incarcerated in mental institutions. (One has been locked up for over 40 years and is still batty as a loon). Neither of the two committed acts that convictions would have imprisoned them for anywhere near the time they have been in institutions.
Most jurors are a pretty hard sell when it comes to insanity pleas. That is a good thing.
The facts are that while many may assert the insanity plea very few are successful in being found not guilty by reason of insanity and if they are......they are locked up until found sane.
During my rather long career in law enforcement I only had two cases of suspects being found not guilty by reason of insanity. As far as I know both are still incarcerated in mental institutions. (One has been locked up for over 40 years and is still batty as a loon). Neither of the two committed acts that convictions would have imprisoned them for anywhere near the time they have been in institutions.
Most jurors are a pretty hard sell when it comes to insanity pleas. That is a good thing.
