The Evolution of the Insanity Defense and Challenges in Determining Guilt or Innocence

This chapter discusses the evolution of the insanity defense in the legal system, including the limitations of previous rules and the emergence of new definitions of insanity. It explores the challenges of proving acts as the result of mental disease, the role of psychiatrists in determining mental disease, and controversies surrounding expert witness testimony. The chapter also examines the Bronner rule and its impact on the responsibility of jurors in deciding if a crime resulted from a mental defect, concluding with a real-life case of John Hinckley's attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.