Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1986
Keywords
Insanity defense
Disciplines
Applied Statistics | Criminal Law | Criminal Procedure | Law and Society | Litigation
Abstract
Results from a public opinion survey of knowledge, attitudes, and support for the insanity defense indicate that people dislike the insanity defense for both retributive and utilitarian reasons: they want insane law-breakers punished, and they believe that insanity defense procedures fail to protect the public. However, people vastly overestimate the use and success of the insanity plea. Several attitudinal and demographic variables that other researchers have found to be associated with people's support for the death penalty and perceptions of criminal sentencing are also related to support for the insanity defense. Implications for public policy are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Hans, Valerie P., "An Analysis of Public Attitudes Toward the Insanity Defense" (1986). Cornell Law Faculty Publications. 330.
https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/facpub/330
Publication Citation
Published in: Criminology, vol. 24, no. 2 (May 1986).
Included in
Applied Statistics Commons, Criminal Law Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Law and Society Commons, Litigation Commons