What are the different types of criminal defenses?

In Maryland, criminal defenses fall into three main categories. The first is an “Insanity Defense” where the defendant claims they could not comprehend the wrongfulness of their actions or control their behavior at the time of the offense because of a mental illness. The second is an “Intoxication Defense” in which the defendant claims they had taken drugs or alcohol that impaired their judgment and rendered them unable to premeditate the offense. The third is an “Alibi Defense” where the defendant claims they were somewhere other than the scene of the crime at the time it occurred. In addition, there are other specific defenses such as Duress (where the defendant was coerced by threats of harm to commit the crime) and Self-Defense (where the defendant had non-deadly force against an unprovoked attack). A defendant’s “Age Defense” may be invoked if they were younger than 18 years old at the time of the offense. The “Entrapment Defense” can be used if law enforcement is involved in the act of the crime. And in some cases, a “Statute of Limitations Defense” can be used if the prosecution’s timeline for filing charges has expired. Ultimately, the burden of proof is on the defendant to demonstrate the validity of their chosen criminal defense. A skilled attorney can help a defendant assess the merits of their proposed defense and compare it to the evidence in the prosecution’s case. As each criminal defense has a unique set of rules and legal nuances, it is wise to seek the advice of competent legal counsel in order to receive the best outcome based on the facts of the case.

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What are the different types of criminal defenses?

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