INSANITY DEFENSE & PLEA BARGAINING

Insanity Defense & Plea Bargaining

Insanity Defense & Plea Bargaining

Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) is a verdict issued in criminal cases whereby the defendant, determined to be legally insane, is held not responsible for his or her criminal actions. NGRI is a possible verdict following trials in which the defendant employs the “insanity defense,” arguing that the criminal behavior in question was caused by a mental disorder that existed at the time of the offense. Unlike a plea of “Not guilty,” a defendant entering a plea of insanity is admitting to the acts ...