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John Hinckley, Jr. And The Insanity Defense: The Public's Verdict, Valerie P. Hans, Dan Slater
John Hinckley, Jr. And The Insanity Defense: The Public's Verdict, Valerie P. Hans, Dan Slater
Cornell Law Faculty Publications
Public furor over the Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity verdict in the trial of John Hinckley, Jr. already has stimulated legal changes in the insanity defense. This study documents more systematically the dimensions of negative public opinion concerning the Hinckley verdict. A survey of Delaware residents shortly after the trial's conclusion indicated that the verdict was perceived as unfair, Hinckley was viewed as not insane, the psychiatrists' testimony at the trial was not trusted, and the vast majority thought that the insanity defense was a loophole. However, survey respondents were unable to define the legal test for insanity and …
What Now For The Insanity Defense?, Fernand N. Dutile, Thomas H. Singer
What Now For The Insanity Defense?, Fernand N. Dutile, Thomas H. Singer
Journal Articles
The jury's verdict of acquittal by reason of insanity in the case of President Reagan's attempted assassination has stirred vivid debate, both in and out of the U.S. Congress and other public bodies. This article will briefly discuss the history of the insanity defense in the United States, the current status of that defense, and some major problems remaining in its use.