WHAT CONSTITUTES THE VERDICT OF INSANITY?.
Insanity, mental disorder of such severity as to render its victim incapable of managing his affairs or of conforming to social standards. Today, the term insanity is used chiefly in criminal law, to denote mental aberrations or defects that may relieve a person from the legal consequences of his or her acts. Today, psychologists may perform tests to determine whether or not the defendant is mentally stable. Such tests try to ascertain whether or not a defendant can distinguish right from wrong, and whether or not he acted on an "irresistible impulse".
There are a broad range of factors that constitutes the verdict of insanity. The issue become even more complex when questions are raised in the courts of law concerning a person's mental condition at the time he or she committed the alleged crime.
The defense attorney pleads that the defendant should not be found guilty of the criminal charges, because the defendant was "insane" at the time he or she committed the offense. The defendant must then undergo psychiatric and psychological evaluation to see whether there is evidence for the "insanity defense". Psychologists also examine all the existing evidence surrounding the case, and all past evidence pertaining to the individual's history of mental illness. Psychologists offer their opinions, based on examination of all the information surrounding the case. Although, Psychologist may examine the individual and testify in court, the final decision is a legal one, made by the courts based on the legal proceeding.
If the plea of insanity is made, the courts determines that a reasonable basis exists to support the plea, then the courts may commit the defendant to a secure mental health facility under the Department of Health Services, or a secure county mental evaluation and treatment facility, or another licensed mental health facility for mental health evaluation and treatment.
