18-U.S.C.-17

§17 – Insanity Defense

Pathway

Title 18 > Part I > Chapter 1 > Section 17

Details

• Reference: Section 17
• Legend: §17 – Insanity Defense
• USCode Year: 2013

Provision Content

(a) Affirmative Defense.—It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under any Federal statute that, at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts. Mental disease or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense.

(b) Burden of Proof.—The defendant has the burden of proving the defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence.

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §402(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2057, §20; renumbered §17, Pub. L. 99–646, §34(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3599.)

U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage

18-U.S.C.-1 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Criminal Law

In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-1, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to criminal law in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States criminal law-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.

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