Introduction
The U.S. Supreme Court is looking anew at the insanity defense, a centuries-old legal doctrine, which holds that some mentally ill defendants do not know right from wrong and cannot be held responsible for their crimes. Supporters of the insanity defense say such individuals need psychiatric treatment, not imprisonment. But critics say the insanity defense is often a “get-out-of-jail” card that enables criminals to avoid punishment. The issue at stake in the Supreme Court case is whether a state that abolishes the insanity defense is violating the U.S. Constitution. A Kansas man facing the death penalty in a quadruple homicide says a state law abolishing the insanity defense unconstitutionally prevented him from arguing that his actions were the result of his mental illness. Many legal experts say the Kansas law — and similar ones in three other states — violate legal precedents and moral norms. But other experts and crime victims' groups say the Constitution allows states to establish their own criminal laws.
People line up outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 7 in hopes of hearing arguments at the start of the court's fall term. The justices that day heard attorneys debate whether a state can abolish the insanity defense. (Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)
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Jul. 01, 2022 |
Youth Mental Health |
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Jul. 31, 2020 |
COVID-19 and Mental Health |
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Oct. 11, 2019 |
The Insanity Defense |
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Jul. 12, 2019 |
Suicide Crisis |
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Mar. 13, 2015 |
Prisoners and Mental Illness |
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Dec. 05, 2014 |
Treating Schizophrenia |
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Sep. 12, 2014 |
Teen Suicide |
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May 10, 2013 |
Mental Health Policy |
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Aug. 03, 2012 |
Treating ADHD |
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Jun. 01, 2012 |
Traumatic Brain Injury |
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Jun. 26, 2009 |
Treating Depression |
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Feb. 13, 2004 |
Youth Suicide |
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Feb. 06, 2004 |
Mental Illness Medication Debate |
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Mar. 29, 2002 |
Mental Health Insurance |
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Feb. 08, 2002 |
Treating Anxiety |
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Jul. 16, 1999 |
Childhood Depression |
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Jun. 18, 1999 |
Boys' Emotional Needs |
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Sep. 12, 1997 |
Mental Health Policy |
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Aug. 19, 1994 |
Prozac |
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Aug. 06, 1993 |
Mental Illness |
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Oct. 09, 1992 |
Depression |
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Jun. 14, 1991 |
Teenage Suicide |
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Jul. 08, 1988 |
Biology Invades Psychology |
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Feb. 13, 1987 |
The Mentally Ill |
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Aug. 20, 1982 |
Mental Health Care Reappraisal |
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Jun. 12, 1981 |
Youth Suicide |
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Sep. 21, 1979 |
Mental Health Care |
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Sep. 15, 1978 |
Brain Research |
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Jul. 05, 1974 |
Psychomedicine |
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Aug. 08, 1973 |
Emotionally Disturbed Children |
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Dec. 27, 1972 |
Mental Depression |
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Mar. 24, 1972 |
Schizophrenia: Medical Enigma |
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Apr. 21, 1971 |
Approaches to Death |
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Mar. 03, 1971 |
Encounter Groups |
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Nov. 25, 1970 |
Psychological Counseling of Students |
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Feb. 19, 1969 |
Future of Psychiatry |
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Feb. 02, 1966 |
New Approaches to Mental Illness |
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Jan. 22, 1964 |
Insanity as a Defense |
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Sep. 25, 1963 |
Anatomy of Suicide |
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Nov. 20, 1957 |
Drugs and Mental Health |
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Apr. 23, 1954 |
Mental Health Programs |
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Jul. 09, 1948 |
Mental Health |
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