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A state-by-state chart showing the legal standards for insanity, "guilty but mentally ill," and other provisions relevant to defendants raising the insanity defense.
Key:
M'N = M'Naughten
A.L.I. = American Law Institute
GBMI = Guilty But Mentally Ill
GBI = Guilty But Insane
NGBD = Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Disease or Defect
NGBI = Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
ABI = Acquitted by Reason of Insanity
N/S = Not Stated |
| Insanity Test | Bifurcated Trial | Verdict(s) | Treatment
(D=discretionary
M=mandatory)
| Release Authority |
Alabama | M'N | N | NGBD | D | Court |
Alaska | M'N (nature and quality prong only)1 | N | NGBI/GBMI | D for NGBI;
M for GBMI
| Court |
Arizona | M'N (nature and quality)2 | N | NGBI/GBI | D | Court |
Arkansas | A.L.I. (minus "substantial") | N | NGBD | D | Court |
California | M'N
| Y | NGBI | D | Court |
Colorado | M'N and irresistible impulse | N | NGBI | M | Court |
Connecticut | A.L.I (requires lack of capacity to conform behavior) | N | NGBD | D | Court |
Delaware | A.L.I. (criminal prong only) | N | NGBI | M | Court |
District of Columbia | A.L.I. | Y | NGBI | M | Court |
Florida | M'N | Y3 | NGBI | D | Court |
Georgia | M'N and delusional comparison | N | NGBI/GBMI/GBMR | M for NGBI
D for GBMI/GBMR | Court |
Hawaii | A.L.I.4 | N | Acquitted for physical or mental disorder | D | Court |
Idaho5 | | | GBI | D | Court |
Illinois | A.L.I. (requires lack of substantial capacity to conform) | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Indiana | A.L.I. (no control prong)6 | N | Not responsible by Insanity | D | Court |
Iowa | M'N | N | NGBI | M | Court |
Kansas | M'N | N | NGBD | M | Court |
Kentucky | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Louisiana | M'N | N | NGBI | M | Court |
Maine | A.L.I. (no control prong)7 | Y | Not responsible for mental defect reasons | M | Court |
Maryland | A.L.I. | Y | Not responsible by reason of insanity | D | Court |
Massachusetts | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | D | State Hospital8 |
Michigan | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | M | N/S |
Minnesota | M'N | Y | NGBI | M | Court |
Mississippi | M'N | Y | ABI | D | N/S |
Missouri | M'N and incapacity to conform conduct to requirements of law | N | NGBD | M | Court |
Montana9 | N/A | | GBI | D | Court |
Nebraska | M'N | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Nevada | N/S | N | GBMI | D | |
New Hampshire | 10 | Y | NGBI | M | Court |
New Jersey | M'N | N | NGBI | D | Court |
New Mexico | M'N or Irresistible Impulse | N | NGBI | D | Court |
New York | A.L.I. | N | Not responsible by reason of mental defect | D | Court |
North Carolina | M'N | N | NGBI | M | Court |
North Dakota11 | A.L.I. | Y | NG, lack of criminal responsibility | D | Court Annual Review |
Ohio | M'N | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Oklahoma | M'N | Y | AGI | D | Court |
Oregon | A.L.I. | N | Guilty except for insanity | D | Psych. Security Review Board |
Pennsylvania | M'N | Y | NGBI | D12 | Court |
Puerto Rico | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Rhode Island | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | D | Court |
South Carolina | M'N | N | NGBI | M (120 days) | Chief Admin. Judge |
South Dakota | M'N | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Tennessee | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | M | Court |
Texas | M'N and Irresistible Impulse | N | NGBI | D for nonviolent,
M for violent | Court |
Utah13 | | | GBI | D | Court |
Vermont | A.L.I. | N | NGBI | D | Dev/Men Health Services14 |
Virginia | M'N and Irresistible Impulse | N | NGBI | D | Court |
Washington | M'N | N | NGBI | D | Court |
West Virginia | A.L.I. | N | NGBD | M | Court |
Wisconsin | A.L.I. | Y | NGBD | D | Court |
Wyoming | A.L.I. | N | NGMI/D | D | Court |
Federal | M'N | N | NGBI | M15 | Court16 |
Source: Table 38, The Defense of Insanity: Standards and Procedures, State Court Organization, 1998; U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics (June, 2000).
: For the most recent laws and links to statutory language, see this collection of state mental health laws.
1 Wrongfulness prong is basis for GBMI verdict.
2 Wrongfulness prong is basis for GBI verdict.
3 At discretion of trial court.
4 Expands disability defense so conduct can be as a result of "physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect."
5 Insanity defense abolished; evidence of mental defect may negate an offense element.
6 Mental disease/defect must be a severely abnormal mental condition that grossly and demonstrably impairs perception.
7 Mental disease/defect must be a severely abnormal mental condition that grossly and demonstrably impairs perception.
8 District attorney must be informed of release and given opportunity to file civil commitment.
9 Insanity defense abolished; evidence of mental defect may negate an offense element.
10 Legislature has not adopted a test: Courts have held that the insanity must negate criminal intent for NGBI verdict.
11 Availability of insanity defense tied to the elements of offense. Effectively abolishes insanity defense for crimes not requiring intention, knowledge, or recklessness.
12 If court has reasonable grounds to believe imposition is necessary due to his/her dangerous character.
13 Insanity defense abolished, evidence of mental defect may negate an offense element.
14 Court may retain the release authority.
15 Unless defense can prove by clear and convincing evidence that his release would not create a substantial risk of bodily injury or serious damage to property due to a present mental disease or defect.
16 Upon certification by director of mental facility that defendant's release or conditional release would no longer create a substantial risk.
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