What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

An insanity defense in criminal defense law is a legal defense that is used to attempt to prove that the defendant did not understand the consequences of their actions due to mental illness at the time of committing the crime. This means that the defendant was not of sound mental state, or they did not understand the wrongfulness of their actions. In New York, the insanity defense must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. This means that the evidence presented must be significantly more likely true than not true. To be eligible for the insanity defense, the defendant must have a mental illness, defect, or disorder recognized by the law. The court will then determine if the defendant’s mental illness impaired their ability to understand the wrongfulness of their actions. If the court finds in the defendant’s favor, a judge or jury may decide to find the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity. If this occurs, the defendant could be hospitalized rather than sentenced to jail or prison.

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