PSYC 2490 Chapter Notes - Chapter 25: Irresistible Impulse, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Hinckley Jr.

• School: University of Manitoba
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2490
• Professor: Janine M.Montgomery

Document Summary

Addressed insanity defense at federal level for the first time. 1) eliminates irresistible-impulse component of the ali rules. 2) changes the ali"s lacks substantial capacityto appreciate to unable to appreciate *tightens the grounds for an insanity defense, making criteria for impairment judgment more stringent. 3) stipulates that mental disease/defect must be severe: no longer can use defense diminished capacity or diminished responsibility based on mitigating circumstances as extreme passion or temporary insanity. 4) shifts the burden of proof from prosecution to defense *defense must prove the defendant insane, with clear and convincing evidence. Due to the person"s insanity at the time, the defense argues that the person should not be held responsible for and thus should be acquitted of the crime. Successful: person not held responsible due to psychological disorder. Committed indefinitely to forensic hospital, released only when deemed no longer dangerous and no longer mentally ill.