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Insanity Defense  

Last Updated: Mar 20, 2012 URL: http://libguides.broward.edu/Insanity_Defense Print Guide RSS UpdatesEmail AlertsShareThis
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Definition

“An affirmative defense alleging that a mental disorder caused the accused to commit the crime.” (Black's Law Dictionary)

 

Keywords

  • Infanticide
  • Women murderers
 

Also Available in Reference

Cover Art
Encyclopedia of American Crime
pp. 360-361

Cover Art
Encyclopedia of crime and justice
Vol. 2, “Excuse: Insanity”

Florida Statutes:
Chapter 775 "Insanity Defense"

Issues & Controversies
"Insanity Defense Update" 4/26/02

 
 

Finding Books

Books
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eBooks
eBooks are electronic versions of books available to read online 24/7. For a simple subject search, please use the search box below.

Note: You will have to login with your BC ID# and Your default PIN is a 4 digit code based on your birth date: MMDD. (For example, if you were born on July 04, your PIN is 0704.) Updated on 01/25/12, DT.

 

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    Narrow the topic

    • What impact would elimination of the insanity defense have on the legal system?
    • Is justice served by jailing a person who cannot distinguish between right and wrong?
    • Would a “guilty but insane” verdict permit justice to be served?
    • Is it useful or just to punish someone who is mentally ill?
    • Should mental illness be a relevant factor in a trial?
    • Can insane people be rehabilitated? If so, should they be tried for the crime once they have been rehabilitated?
    • Are psychiatrists capable of determining who is insane?
    • How can psychiatrists offer opinions concerning insanity, which are totally contrary?
    • Has the insanity defense become a "get out of jail free" card?
     

    Reference Books

    Cover Art
    Encyclopedia of Psychology & Law
    Call Number: REF K 346 .E53 2008

    Cover Art
    Encyclopedia of American Civil Rights & Liberties
    Call Number: REF KF 4748 .E53 2006

    Cover Art
    West’s Encyclopedia of American Law
    Call Number: REF KF 154 .W47

    Criminal Justice
    Call Number: REF KF 9214.5 .C75 2006

    Cover Art
    Salem health: psychology & mental health
    Call Number: REF BF 636 .P86 2010

     
     

    Finding Articles

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    Suggested Databases

    • CQ Researcher Plus Archive  
        
      CQ Researcher explores a single "hot" issue each week, ranging from social and teen issues to environment, health, education, and science. Forty-four reports produced each year, including four expanded reports. Includes charts, and graphs.
    • Issues and Controversies  
        
      Issues and Controversies offers a wealth of current topics research information, including pro/con discussions of hot issues, newspaper editorials, numerical snapshots of key topics, photos and graphics, and selected historical source documents.
    • Opposing Viewpoints  
        
      Opposing Viewpoints searches viewpoint articles, contextual topic overviews, government and organizational statistics, court cases, profiles of government agencies and special interest groups, newspaper and magazine articles and more social issues.
    • Academic Search Complete  
        
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    • America's Newspapers  
        
      America's Newspapers from NewsBank provides full-text articles from the electronic editions of record for more than 600 U.S. newspapers - all in one easy-to-search database.
    • Subject Specific Databases
     

    In the News

    San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Paul Henderson discusses the insanity defense on Fox News

     

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    Cite Your Sources

    Eventually, all students have to learn to properly cite their sources for their research. Some classes require MLA style, while others use APA. This page will give you pointers as well as help in creating those "Works Cited" or "References" pages. Remember you can always contact us, if it gets confusing (and it usually does!)

    • MLA Update 2009
      In Summer 2008, the Modern Language Association released its third edition of the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, which publicly unveiled modifications to MLA Style for the upcoming year.
      These changes go into effect in April 2009.
    • Sample of MLA Work Cited Page
      From Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University
    • Citation Builder - NCSU
      Citation Builder is an interactive web tool designed to assist college and university students in their effort to respect other people's intellectual properties.
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