The Definition and Criticism of an Insanity Defense Essay - 1

The Definition and Criticism of an Insanity Defense - Essay Example Very few people plead insanity though and among those who plead it, a very minor part wins the plea. An important point here is people acquitted under insanity defense are seldom allowed to walk free. In almost all cases, the acquitted people are allowed to go to treatment centers and kept there until mental health officials determine they do not pose a danger to anyone. Criticism to insanity defense is a common phenomenon. Critics argue that some defendants misuse insanity defense, effectively faking insanity to win acquittals or less severe convictions. And often the trials involving an insanity defense get the most attention because they involve crimes that are peculiar within themselves. Nevertheless, studies suggest the overwhelming majority of defendants acquitted by reason of insanity suffer from schizophrenia or some other mental illness (Fersch, 2005). There could be several reasons for criticizing the insanity defense, including political, legal as well as humanistic. In USA, for instance, the insanity defense received harsh public criticism when, after the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr., Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Lot of people argues argued that his premeditation of the crime was undeniable proof of his sanity. Public criticism of the insanity defense has continued to grow with each high profile case. In conclusion, insanity plea is a poor excuse for serious lawbreaking, and should not ideally influence or ease the punishment. In a majority of criminal cases, especially murder trials, an insanity plea is used as a defense strategy aimed at saving guilty defendants from death penalty or serving time in prison. The accused usually pretend to be mentally ill and their lawyers use this as a way to confuse jury and influence their judgment. And then most of the accused, by reason of insanity,