Procedural Aspects of Insanity Defense Determinations

Abstract

Chapter 10 addresses the trial-related procedures used to evaluate an insanity defense, with the USSC generally having left it to the states to decide for themselves what procedures to employ. Although they often share some common features, the states have also adopted—like the numerous variations in their insanity tests—different procedures for generating related forensic mental health evaluations, reflecting the widespread uncertainty and disagreement over how to handle these cases. This chapter describes some of these procedures and the controversies associated with them.