NCJ Number
102070
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 477 Dated: (January 1985) Pages: 58-71
Date Published
1985
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This review of research findings on the insanity defense covers the number of persons found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI), the number who plead NGRI, NGRI profiles, the detention period for NGRI's, the NGRI recidivism rate, and the effects of changes in the insanity defense.
Abstract
A 1978 survey (Steadman et al.) indicates 1,554 persons were found NGRI that year. Extrapolation from other studies estimates that approximately 5,180 defendants pleaded NGRI in 1978. Demographically, NGRI's tended to be in their late twenties to early thirties, male, disproportionately white, and unskilled or unemployed. They also tended to have five or more prior mental hospitalizations and were found clinically insane by the court-appointed psychiatrist. Studies indicate a wide variation in the seriousness of NGRI offenses by jurisdiction. A comparison of data for the District of Columbia, New York, and Connecticut indicates that NGRI detention periods in mental hospitals varied across jurisdictions and tended to depend on the seriousness of the charged offense. Offending patterns and recidivism rates for NGRI's in various States were similar to felons. A preliminary comparison of States providing for a verdict of guilty but mentally ill with States having the traditional insanity defense indicates the amount of change in the volume and composition of insanity acquitees may vary by the type (adjudication versus postdispositional) of law reform. Future research is suggested. 48 footnotes.