CAS PS 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: John Hinckley Jr., Insanity Defense, Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act

• School: Boston University
• Department: Psychological & Brain Sciences
• Course: CAS PS 101
• Professor: Martha Tompson

Document Summary

Walked into his business (that he recently lost his job at) and killed 7 people in. Insanity defense didn"t work and was found guilty. Had a severe form of depression where she had psychosis/delusions; was discharged to her home in texas back to her husband and children; her husband left her alone with the children and she drowned them in the bathtub. Insanity defense didn"t work out the first trial, but it did the in the second; still in a long term facility to this day. In 1981, he tried to kill president reagan and ended up shooting his press secretary, James brady; brady bill (limits access to guns for people with mental illness) happened bc of this incident. Was found not guilty by reason of insanity; got long term care in the hospital for 35 years, was released, and now has no symptoms. All 3 individuals suffered with mental illness and used the insanity defense in court.