PSYC 3140 Chapter Notes - Chapter 19: Sexually Violent Predator Laws, American Law Institute, Involuntary Commitment
15 Jul 2015
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Mental health professionals often play a role in the criminal justice system ( psychology in law ) Insanity is a legal term: the defendant may have a mental disorder but not qualify for a legal definition of insanity, the original definition can be traced to the 1843 murder case of daniel m"naghten in. The m"naghten test stated that experiencing a mental disorder at the time of a crime did not by itself mean that the person was insane; the defendant also had to be unable to know right from wrong. In the late 19th century, some u. s. courts adopted a different standard of insanity: the irresistible impulse test. This test emphasized the inability to control one"s actions ( fit of passion defense: a third test also briefly became popular, the durham test. People were not criminally responsible if their unlawful act was the product of mental disease or defect .
