What is the purpose of an insanity defense?

The purpose of an insanity defense is to provide a legal defense for an accused person who may have committed a crime due to their mental illness. In Idaho, an accused person may claim that they had a mental illness at the time of the crime, and that their mental illness prevented them from knowing what they were doing was wrong. This is also known as the “M’Naghten Rule.” The M’Naghten rule states that a person cannot be found guilty of a crime if, at the time of the crime, they did not understand the wrongfulness of their actions due to their mental illness. This defense is meant to protect people who suffer from mental illnesses and don’t have proper control over their actions, and it also limits the liability of those accused of a crime. In Idaho, a defendant must prove to a judge or jury that they were not aware that the crime was wrong due to their mental illness. This is typically done through evidence such as psychiatric evaluation, medical records, and witness statements. If the accused can prove their mental illness prevented them from understanding the wrongfulness of their actions, then they can be found not guilty due to insanity. The goal of the insanity defense is to ensure the criminal justice system is fair to those with mental illnesses. This defense is meant to protect those accused of a crime who may not have had control over their actions due to a mental illness.

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What is the purpose of an insanity defense?

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