Insanity defense - Why does it never seem to work?

[edjr 7,012]

In my eyes if you kill someone, you're insane. I don't think I could kill someone, unless I went insane.

 

If you kill your children? How can that be anything but insane?

 

 

[Strike 6,030]

Depends on your definition of insane. In the legal world, it largely depends on whether you could distinguish right from wrong at the time of the killing. And the burden is largely put on the defense. And there are a million quack psychologists who will shill you an opinion one way or the other for a fee. So, if you're on a jury and you've had psychologists both say he knew the difference between right and wrong, and didn't know the difference between right and wrong, but the dude brutally killed a few people, you're probably going to err on the side of convicting him of the crimes instead of sending him to a mental institute where he might get out again some day.

 

Also, you can't really believe that anyone who kills HAS to be insane. Plenty of people kill out of spite, vengeance, greed, or a multitude of other reasons that clearly aren't mental issues.

[NewbieJr 541]

It's a last resort defense when you have zero case of winning.

[drobeski 3,061]

It's a last resort defense when you have zero case of winning.

psssst

 

"chance"

[NewbieJr 541]

psssst

 

"chance"

You're correct.

[edjr 7,012]

.

 

Also, you can't really believe that anyone who kills HAS to be insane. Plenty of people kill out of spite, vengeance, greed, or a multitude of other reasons that clearly aren't mental issues.

 

yes, you have to have some level of insane to kill someone. IMO

[IGotWorms 4,063]

Insanity defense used to be much easier to establish but the standards became much stricter around the 80s. Actually the impetus for changing the federal standard arose when John Hinckley Jr. was found not guilty by reason of insanity of attempting to assassinate Ronald Reagan.

[edjr 7,012]

Insanity defense used to be much easier to establish but the standards became much stricter around the 80s. Actually the impetus for changing the federal standard arose when John Hinckley Jr. was found not guilty by reason of insanity of attempting to assassinate Ronald Reagan.

 

trying to kill the president, seems like the definition of insanity to me.

 

to impress a dyke actress?

 

could you be anymore insane?

[IGotWorms 4,063]

 

trying to kill the president, seems like the definition of insanity to me.

 

to impress a dyke actress?

 

could you be anymore insane?

Where's the line between totally focking stupid and insane? Lots of people do dumb sh1t: doesn't mean they're all nuts

[Cruzer 1,996]

The insanity defense is nothing but a but of bullshseet. Oh I'm sure one or two along the way really are/were insane beyond their own capacities - but c'mon. It has only been aided by the explosion of all of these newly created "syndromes". Hell - people can't have normal emotions anymore w/out it being a "syndrome" of some stupid kind.

[Strike 6,030]

 

yes, you have to have some level of insane to kill someone. IMO

 

That's a pretty low bar, if you think it's enough to satisfy a legal requirement. I bet pretty much anyone on this board, if they saw a shrink, could be diagnosed with some type of defined mental issue. It might be minor but mental issue regardless. Does that mean you should be let off a murder charge due to insanity?

[edjr 7,012]

 

That's a pretty low bar, if you think it's enough to satisfy a legal requirement. I bet pretty much anyone on this board, if they saw a shrink, could be diagnosed with some type of defined mental issue. It might be minor but mental issue regardless. Does that mean you should be let off a murder charge due to insanity?

 

That's not what I said.

 

I am saying you have to have some level of insane to commit a murder. IN MY OPINION.

 

Doesn't mean you should be able to get out of a murder charge.

 

I just know if i were to kill someone, I would have to be out of my mind insane.

[Cruzer 1,996]

I am saying you have to have some level of insane to commit a murder. IN MY OPINION.

Why? You assume (then) that all people are born inherently good, caring and compassionate. Unfortunately they are not. Some people just flat out suck. Some people care nothing about anyone but themselves, some people have no regard for your well being and some people just enjoy hurting others. Does that make them insane? I don't think so - I think it makes them a p.o.s.

[Strike 6,030]

 

That's not what I said.

 

I am saying you have to have some level of insane to commit a murder. IN MY OPINION.

 

Doesn't mean you should be able to get out of a murder charge.

 

I just know if i were to kill someone, I would have to be out of my mind insane.

 

I guess I misinterpreted the title of the thread, which asks why the insanity defense never works. My comments were in that context. My apologies.

[Strike 6,030]

 

I just know if i were to kill someone, I would have to be out of my mind insane.

 

I thought you already did this? Glad to hear Baby Edjr is alive and well.

 

[edjr 7,012]

 

I thought you already did this? Glad to hear Baby Edjr is alive and well.

 

 

[Strike 6,030]

 

 

Sorry. The Bieber censorship roast thread got the best of me.

 

 

[edjr 7,012]

 

Sorry. The Bieber censorship roast thread got the best of me.

 

 

 

I told you. If I had my druthers, edIII would have been sparred and given a chance.

 

edV would have been sparred. even though I would have had to move far far away

 

ed4 is my only.

[lickin_starfish 2,027]

I think that someone who uses the insanity plea should automatically get the death penalty. Insane people are menaces to society that need to be eliminated.

[edjr 7,012]

I think that someone who uses the insanity plea should automatically get the death penalty. Insane people are menaces to society that need to be eliminated.

 

I'm good with that.

[IGotWorms 4,063]

 

I told you. If I had my druthers, edIII would have been sparred and given a chance.

 

edV would have been sparred. even though I would have had to move far far away

 

ed4 is my only.

Not sure we've ever heard the edV story. Although we are probably better for it

[edjr 7,012]

Not sure we've ever heard the edV story. Although we are probably better for it

 

I spilled it at the closet and was pretty much eviscerated.

 

I RPeenied it

 

I couldn't take the heat. as what had happened had just happened, I wasn't prepared to defend myself (which there is no defense really) Not the pregnancy itself, but the story behind the pregnancy and more importantly, whom.

[Voltaire 5,513]

Speaking of insanity, do you guys know of anybody around here that does the same things over and over and expects different results?

[edjr 7,012]

Speaking of insanity, do you guys know of anybody around here that does the same things over and over and expects different results?

 

[NewbieJr 541]

I think that someone who uses the insanity plea should automatically get the death penalty. VIOLENTLY Insane people are menaces to society that need to be eliminated.

With the added word, I have no problem at all with this

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Because the legal definition of insane is very narrow. And people don't like letting killers loose.

[vuduchile 1,947]

Call it whatever you want, but if you have the mental capacity to commit murder, your brain just ain't right.

[The Elevator Killer 724]

 

I spilled it at the closet and was pretty much eviscerated.

 

I RPeenied it

 

I couldn't take the heat. as what had happened had just happened, I wasn't prepared to defend myself (which there is no defense really) Not the pregnancy itself, but the story behind the pregnancy and more importantly, whom.

Your mom?

[edjr 7,012]

Your mom?

 

she's been dead since 2001.

That would be ONE hell of story

[IGotWorms 4,063]

 

she's been dead since 2001.

That would be ONE hell of story

The Walking Ed

[Djgb13 2,339]

I believe the defense is definitely overused. Someone like James Holmes who shot up the movie theater and then tried to claim insanity, whether they prove he is insane or not, should still be put to death. You don't want someone like that out on the streets whether they have been "rehabilitated" or not

[OldMaid 2,137]

Speaking of insanity, do you guys know of anybody around here that does the same things over and over and expects different results?

[BunnysBastatrds 2,683]

Funny. Most of you have zero idea what a true killer encompasses. Yoru are fed the evening news or the day and whatnot. Not talking the gunfight between rival gangs. They can shoot themselves up and are glad they do! Really glad

 

I met a skinny little fawk at Angola Prison twenty plus yearsago. I was there to get a recorded statement from him. I was told all was good but he was a problem.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,683]

He gouged out the eye balls ate them. He was a sic fawker. So one day he was in the yard and a football came close to him. He continued to read his book and didn't look up. The biggest and baddest brother in the yard asked him politely if he could get the ball. When the skinny white sick mother fawker didn't answer, the brother left it there. They were so scared of him, they walked away.

 

The skinny white dude read his book and walked away. He was feared by all. He's still in Angola.

 

When I talked to his mother to get a recorded statement, she laughed.

[The Elevator Killer 724]

It only works if you shot a Beatle.