What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

An insanity defense is a legal defense used in criminal defense law in Massachusetts that is used to show that the defendant was either mentally incapable of understanding their action or unable to differentiate between right and wrong at the time of the crime. This defense is based on the principle that a person shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for their actions if they didn’t have the ability to understand the consequences of their actions. In order to prove an insanity defense in Massachusetts, psychiatric testimony and evidence is submitted to show that the defendant suffered from some type of mental illness or condition that prevented them from making rational decisions. The court may also require a psychological evaluation of the defendant. In Massachusetts, the jury is asked to decide the defendant’s mental state at the time of the crime and determine whether or not they are guilty or innocent based on the evidence presented. If the jury finds that the defendant was not capable of understanding the consequences of their actions or was unable to differentiate between right and wrong, then the defendant is found not guilty. If the jury finds that the defendant was capable of understanding their actions and the consequences of them, then they are found guilty and punished accordingly.

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What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

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