Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984

The Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 was introduced in response to concerns about the use of the insanity defense in legal cases. It established stricter criteria for defendants claiming insanity. Under this law, a defendant must prove that, at the time of the crime, they were unable to understand the nature of their actions or differentiate between right and wrong due to a severe mental illness. This act aimed to ensure that those claiming insanity could not easily escape criminal responsibility, thereby balancing the rights of individuals with mental health issues and public safety concerns.