Psychological and Demographic Factors Associated with Individuals Using the Insanity Defense

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thirty men who were found not guilty by reason of insanity were compared to 30 men who relied on the defense but were found guilty, and with 30 men who were evaluated for the defense but opted to plea bargain. Demographic and psychological test data were obtained for each subject. There was significant psychopathology found across groups, more suggestive of major mental illness than of psychopathy. When data on the heinousness of each individual crime were examined, NGRI subjects were found to commit the least heinous offenses, and those on death row were found to commit the most heinous. Directions for future research and the operation of the legal system in general are discussed.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: