Insanity Defense Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Insanity Defense.

Insanity Defense (noun)

The Insanity Defense is a legal strategy used in criminal trials where the defendant claims they were mentally unstable at the time of the crime. This defense argues that the defendant, due to a mental illness or defect, did not understand the nature of their actions or that they were wrong or illegal. Therefore, they should not be held fully responsible for their actions.