Question

The insanity defense is the subject of many popular misconceptions. Locate two popular articles that discuss the use of this defense in a recent legal case. To what extent was the coverage of the insanity defense factually accurate? Did it fall prey to any of the myths associated with the diagnosis and definition of mental disorders? Explain.

Answer 1

The insanity defense is the subject of many popular misconceptions. Locate two popular articles that discuss the use of this defense in a recent legal case. To what extent was the coverage of the insanity defense factually accurate? Did it fall prey to any of the myths associated with the diagnosis and definition of mental disorders? Explain.

Insanity defence is referred to as mental disorder defense as well in which, in the criminal case the defense or excuse is given as the excuse of committing a crime. It is argued that the defendant cannot be be held reposnbile for any of his actions, since he has had an episodic disease or he has had a psychiatric disorder for a long time.

There have been certain myths surrounding insanity defense, which are:

• Most of the defendants using this plea are fake
• The defense is used more then it should be
• This is a strategy rather than reality
• Mostly these are used for violent crimes

One of the articles published by NCBI which is named as the “insanity defense: past present and future” by Suresh Bada math and another article published by HJ steadman on insanity defense research and treatment give people the idea of realities about insanity defense.