not guilty by reason of insanity

"Not guilty by reason of insanity" is a legal defense used in criminal cases. It means that the defendant was unable to understand the nature of their actions or differentiate between right and wrong due to a severe mental illness at the time of the crime. This defense does not excuse the behavior but argues that the person lacked the mental capacity to be held responsible. If successful, the individual may receive treatment rather than serve time in prison, reflecting the belief that mental health disorders should be addressed with care and rehabilitation.