What is the purpose of an insanity defense?

The purpose of an insanity defense is to show that a defendant should not be held responsible for a crime they may have committed because they did not understand the wrongfulness of their actions. In Maryland, an insanity defense must demonstrate that the defendant was so severely mentally impaired, due to a mental illness or defect, that they did not understand the consequences of their actions or that the actions were wrong. In Maryland, an insanity defense is often used as a form of mitigation, rather than a complete defense. This means that an insanity defense can be used to reduce a criminal charge to a lesser one or to lessen a potential sentence if the defendant is convicted. Ultimately, its purpose is to show that the defendant should not be held fully responsible for their crime due to their mental illness or defect. The legal definition of insanity requires that the defendant’s mental illness or defect must be serious enough to prevent them from understanding their criminal behavior or its potential consequences. This includes understanding of the basic moral obligation that all individuals must adhere to. This responsibility is a fundamental principle of criminal law and must be considered when evaluating an insanity defense.

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What is the purpose of an insanity defense?

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