What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

In criminal defense law, an insanity defense is used to argue that a defendant should not be held criminally responsible for a crime due to a mental illness or other mental disorder that impairs their ability to distinguish between right and wrong. In Hawaii, an insanity defense is known as an "affirmative defense" because the defendant is affirming that they did, in fact, commit the crime but should not be held responsible due to their mental state. In order to be successful in an insanity defense in Hawaii, the defendant needs to prove two things: first, they need to show that they had a mental illness that prevented them from understanding the consequences of their actions; and second, they need to show that they did not know that their actions were wrong. If they can do this, then the court may decide that the defendant should not be held accountable for their actions due to their mental illness. In most cases, the court will appoint a panel of mental health experts to assess the defendant’s mental state and determine whether or not they can be found to be legally insane. The panel will take into account the evidence presented and the defendant’s behavior in order to make a decision. If the panel decides that the defendant was indeed legally insane at the time of the crime, then the court may reduce the charges or decide that the defendant should not be held responsible for the crime.

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What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

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