Insanity Defense Essay

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Recommended: American history

The America we know and live in has a group of people above us who seek justice and what is best for the citizens. This is our government, since its founding, they has promised to protect us and to have its best interests at heart. Somethings in our system are debatable while other should remain just the way they are. Insanity defense is one topic that is often argued much about because of its moral concern. Should a person committing a crime go straight to jail or receive treatment if they have a mental disease? Going back to the founding of America and its government, our government was founded under fair law. It was made with the best intentions for its people and it was made to maintain justice. In general, the United States of America …show more content…

Is he guilty or not guilty? Does he deserve to be in a prison where many people who knew there wrongful acts are? Or does he deserve to be in a mental hospital receiving treatments to better his condition. Note that people who commit a crime and are found not guilty and criminally insane will not go into society and be free, they will be in a supervised hospital and be given treatment. Those who are against the “insanity defense” think that if the accused committed the crime he should pay for it not mattering his situation. However, how I stated above, what if a traumatized veteran accidentally fires upon a citizen thinking he is at war. Is it right to imprison him because of his …show more content…

"Criticisms of the Insanity Defense." Preface. Psychological Profiles and Institution Effects Pertaining to Inmates Incarcerated Under the Insanity Defense. By Caryl.1983. 18-20. PDF file.

Fersch, Ellsworth L. "What is the insanity defense? ." Preface. Thinking about the Insanity Defense. By Fersch. N.p.: n.p., 2005. 2-5. Print.

Bonnie, Richard J. “The Moral Basis of the Insanity Defense.” Preface. ABA Journal. By Bonnie. 1983. 194-196. Journal

"Insanity Defense-History." Editorial. www.law.jrank.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. <http://law.jrank.org/pages/7664/Insanity-Defense-History.html>.

"The Long-Island Railroad Murder - 'Black Rage' or 'So Crazy He Thinks He's Sane?'" www.law.cornell.edu. N.p., 28 Mar. 2002. Web. 11 Apr. 2011 <http://

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