Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:321-326
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Insanity acquittals in New York State, 1965--1978
HJ Steadman
The author presents data on the use of the insanity defense to provide a
basis for current debates on its revision. Generally, the experience in New
York State in 1976--1978 reflects an increasing number of insanity
acquittals over 1965--1976, but the characteristics and length of
hospitalization of the defendants remained fairly similar. In addition, in
some counties the defense was used often, but in others it was not used at
all. The author suggests that similar, more sophisticated analyses of the
actual operation of the insanity defense be carried out to establish an
adequate basis for designing rational social policy.
