What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

An insanity defense in criminal defense law is a legal defense that a defendant may use in a criminal case to argue that they should not be held criminally responsible for their actions because they were mentally incapacitated at the time of the criminal act. In California, this defense is guided by penal code section 1027, which states that a defendant is not guilty of committing a crime if, at the time of their act, they were incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong because of a mental disorder or deficiency. In order to establish an insanity defense, the defendant must provide clear evidence that they were suffering from a mental disorder or deficiency when the crime was committed. This evidence can include medical records, psychological evaluations, and expert testimony from psychiatrists or psychologists. The defense is difficult to prove, as it requires the defendant to demonstrate that their mental illness was the primary cause of their loss of the ability to understand right from wrong at the time of the crime. Furthermore, if the insanity defense is successful, the defendant will not be convicted of the crime but instead will be remanded to a psychiatric hospital or other mental health facility for an indeterminate amount of time, until it is determined that they are no longer a threat to themselves or the public.

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