Since the beginning of time, many
horrendous acts of violence have occurred. Most of these acts have not gone
unpunished in the judicial system. Some people, who have committed violent acts
and even murders, have walked away without a scratch to their records. The use
of the insanity defense aids the ill during their court hearings.
If one is insane, one has a mental disorder severe enough to relieve a person of responsibility of his or her actions. There have been several “Insanity Tests” practiced throughout time. The first was a cognitive test, the M’Naghten Rule, and under this rule “the defendant must be found not guilty by reason of insanity if, due to his mental impairment, he either did not know that nature and quality of his criminal act, or, he did not know that the act was wrong at the time he committed it (Insanity).” The second test is called the Irresistible Impulse test. This test determines if the person was unable to control himself and avoid committing an illegal act. The Model Penal Code follows with more of an emphasis on mental impairment. In this code, one may be found innocent if one does not “appreciate the criminality of his conduct” or “conform his conduct to the requirements of law (Insanity).” These rules and codes were the basis of the plea when it first came about. Over the years, doctors, lawyers, lawmakers, and others have found other ways to diagnose and identify these diseases that make one “insane.”
Although the use of the insanity plea is very controversial, there are many who do not realize that the jury has to rule in favor of the laws that are set. In many cases, the defense cases match almost perfectly to the rules of the plea. In the first insanity plea case in the United States, Daniel Sickles pleaded not guilty by temporary insanity for murdering Philip Barton Key. Sickles was 33 years old when he married 15-year-old Teresa Bagioli. He kept his marriage a secret until a rumored affair between his wife and Key became public. Sickles shot and killed Key, and his cases presented in front of an all-male jury, was acquitted of all of the charges. He blamed his temporary insanity on his wife’s infidelity (Young). Daniel Sickles was also praised in a cynical way afterwards; being applauded for his murdering Key to ensure more women were not involved with the adulterer. This piece clearly shows how narrow-minded the jury and townsmen were. In another case in 1981, Steven Steinberg was originally charged with the murder of his wife, Elena, who was stabbed 26 times. Steinberg called the police on himself, fabricated a part of the story, and it was still ruled a case of homicidal somnambulism (sleep walking). The jury was later quoted:
“The defendant was not in his normal state of mind when he committed the act. Sleep walking is a parasomnia manifested by automatism; as such, harmful actions committed while in this state cannot be blamed on the perpetrator (Young).”
Steinberg walked away from the murder unscathed. A few jury members were later quoted that “they were aware that they were releasing a killer but he was not criminally responsible for his actions (Young).” In this case, the law aided Steinberg’s innocence.
In the criminal justice system, the “insanity defense” is, by definition, legal in nature. Organizations, such as Mental Health America, have supported the not guilty by reason of insanity plea. In their background information, the MHA states that they fully support the judicial system that rules in favor of all persons accused of a crime if they have already voluntarily tried to enroll themselves in a sort of mental health facility. For Andrew Goldstein, this should have been the case. In 1999, he pushed a young Kendra Webdale into the path of an approaching train, resulting in her death. Goldstein had suffered from a severe case of schizophrenia and claimed to hear voices. He was found guilty on account that the prosecutor identified that he killed her because she resembled a stripper that sexually frustrated him. He was charged with her murder even though he was committed to a hospital almost fifteen times between 1997 and 1998. Goldstein even requested permanent hospitalization but was refused (Young). This is a case where the insanity defense plea should have protected him at the time. Several years later, he admitted to being aware of his actions during the murder.
From the Goldstein case, many people have researched schizophrenia. This is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people thought history (Schizophrenia). Schizophrenia may be one of the leading causes for the use of the insanity plea. This disorder causes the person to lose all touch with reality. In some cases, people affected by this have indeed been charged with the crime but have been sentenced to an asylum or mental hospital rather than a prison. An asylum is a much better fit for a person with a mental disorder. If one is put into a prison, they could potentially cause harm to others or themselves. But in few cases, people have not been graced with the insanity plea. For example, David Berkowitz went on a 13 month killing spree between 1976 and 1977 in New York City which resulted in six deaths and several injuries (Crime). Berkowitz described the murders in great detail at the time of his arrest, leaving no room for even considering the plea. During his confession, he stated that his motivation for the murders came from his neighbors dog’s barking. Even though he was mentally withdrawn and obsessed with murdering, the jury did not believe he was schizophrenic, but simply sadistic and demonic (Crime). Berkowitz was found guilty of all murders and sentenced to 365 years in prison without the chance of parole (Crime). Even now, he is still trying to appeal his sentence by claiming he is criminally insane.
The insanity defense has been used so often that Congress passed the Insanity Defense Reform Act, which tightened federal standards (Insanity). In 1982, the John Hickley case had been rumored to be the “last straw” for many American citizens concerning the plea. Hickley shot U.S. President Ronald Reagen, a secret service agent, a Washington police officer, and Reagen’s press secretary, James Brady, all over a fantasy about Jodie Foster (Young). She had starred in a movie that he became infatuated with which he based the murders. This case, being dubbed one of the most influential insanity-defense, ended with him being acquitted of 13 assault, murder, and weapons counts (Crime). He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The insanity defense plea has evolved throughout time into a device to protect the ill from harsh judicial reform as well as themselves. Many mental, physical, and emotional factors are levied when concerning the plea. Experts in these fields will continue to find ways to cure the disease and disorders in people that the insanity defense cannot always protect. We can only hope that others will continue to use the plea when it is needed rather than abusing it to evade punishments for their crimes.
Works Cited
“Insanity.” Insanity. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.
<http://nationalparalegal.edu/public_documents/courseware_asp_files/criminalLaw/defense/Insanity.asp>.
Young, Gideon. “Top 10 Most Notorious Insanity Defense Cases.” Listverse. N.p., 1 Apr. 2012.
Web. 29 Jan. 2014. <http://listverse.com/2012/04/11/top-10-most-notorious-insanity-defense-cases/>.
“Position Statement 57: In Support of the Insanity Defense.” Mental Health America. N.p., n.d.
Web. 30 Jan. 2014. <http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/positions/insanity-defense>.
“Insanity Defense.” Legal Information Institute n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/insanity_defense>.
“Schizophrenia.” NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml?utm_source=publish2&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=www.kpbs.org>.
“A Crime of Insanity.” Frontline. WGBH, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/crime/trial/other.html>.
If one is insane, one has a mental disorder severe enough to relieve a person of responsibility of his or her actions. There have been several “Insanity Tests” practiced throughout time. The first was a cognitive test, the M’Naghten Rule, and under this rule “the defendant must be found not guilty by reason of insanity if, due to his mental impairment, he either did not know that nature and quality of his criminal act, or, he did not know that the act was wrong at the time he committed it (Insanity).” The second test is called the Irresistible Impulse test. This test determines if the person was unable to control himself and avoid committing an illegal act. The Model Penal Code follows with more of an emphasis on mental impairment. In this code, one may be found innocent if one does not “appreciate the criminality of his conduct” or “conform his conduct to the requirements of law (Insanity).” These rules and codes were the basis of the plea when it first came about. Over the years, doctors, lawyers, lawmakers, and others have found other ways to diagnose and identify these diseases that make one “insane.”
Although the use of the insanity plea is very controversial, there are many who do not realize that the jury has to rule in favor of the laws that are set. In many cases, the defense cases match almost perfectly to the rules of the plea. In the first insanity plea case in the United States, Daniel Sickles pleaded not guilty by temporary insanity for murdering Philip Barton Key. Sickles was 33 years old when he married 15-year-old Teresa Bagioli. He kept his marriage a secret until a rumored affair between his wife and Key became public. Sickles shot and killed Key, and his cases presented in front of an all-male jury, was acquitted of all of the charges. He blamed his temporary insanity on his wife’s infidelity (Young). Daniel Sickles was also praised in a cynical way afterwards; being applauded for his murdering Key to ensure more women were not involved with the adulterer. This piece clearly shows how narrow-minded the jury and townsmen were. In another case in 1981, Steven Steinberg was originally charged with the murder of his wife, Elena, who was stabbed 26 times. Steinberg called the police on himself, fabricated a part of the story, and it was still ruled a case of homicidal somnambulism (sleep walking). The jury was later quoted:
“The defendant was not in his normal state of mind when he committed the act. Sleep walking is a parasomnia manifested by automatism; as such, harmful actions committed while in this state cannot be blamed on the perpetrator (Young).”
Steinberg walked away from the murder unscathed. A few jury members were later quoted that “they were aware that they were releasing a killer but he was not criminally responsible for his actions (Young).” In this case, the law aided Steinberg’s innocence.
In the criminal justice system, the “insanity defense” is, by definition, legal in nature. Organizations, such as Mental Health America, have supported the not guilty by reason of insanity plea. In their background information, the MHA states that they fully support the judicial system that rules in favor of all persons accused of a crime if they have already voluntarily tried to enroll themselves in a sort of mental health facility. For Andrew Goldstein, this should have been the case. In 1999, he pushed a young Kendra Webdale into the path of an approaching train, resulting in her death. Goldstein had suffered from a severe case of schizophrenia and claimed to hear voices. He was found guilty on account that the prosecutor identified that he killed her because she resembled a stripper that sexually frustrated him. He was charged with her murder even though he was committed to a hospital almost fifteen times between 1997 and 1998. Goldstein even requested permanent hospitalization but was refused (Young). This is a case where the insanity defense plea should have protected him at the time. Several years later, he admitted to being aware of his actions during the murder.
From the Goldstein case, many people have researched schizophrenia. This is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has affected people thought history (Schizophrenia). Schizophrenia may be one of the leading causes for the use of the insanity plea. This disorder causes the person to lose all touch with reality. In some cases, people affected by this have indeed been charged with the crime but have been sentenced to an asylum or mental hospital rather than a prison. An asylum is a much better fit for a person with a mental disorder. If one is put into a prison, they could potentially cause harm to others or themselves. But in few cases, people have not been graced with the insanity plea. For example, David Berkowitz went on a 13 month killing spree between 1976 and 1977 in New York City which resulted in six deaths and several injuries (Crime). Berkowitz described the murders in great detail at the time of his arrest, leaving no room for even considering the plea. During his confession, he stated that his motivation for the murders came from his neighbors dog’s barking. Even though he was mentally withdrawn and obsessed with murdering, the jury did not believe he was schizophrenic, but simply sadistic and demonic (Crime). Berkowitz was found guilty of all murders and sentenced to 365 years in prison without the chance of parole (Crime). Even now, he is still trying to appeal his sentence by claiming he is criminally insane.
The insanity defense has been used so often that Congress passed the Insanity Defense Reform Act, which tightened federal standards (Insanity). In 1982, the John Hickley case had been rumored to be the “last straw” for many American citizens concerning the plea. Hickley shot U.S. President Ronald Reagen, a secret service agent, a Washington police officer, and Reagen’s press secretary, James Brady, all over a fantasy about Jodie Foster (Young). She had starred in a movie that he became infatuated with which he based the murders. This case, being dubbed one of the most influential insanity-defense, ended with him being acquitted of 13 assault, murder, and weapons counts (Crime). He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The insanity defense plea has evolved throughout time into a device to protect the ill from harsh judicial reform as well as themselves. Many mental, physical, and emotional factors are levied when concerning the plea. Experts in these fields will continue to find ways to cure the disease and disorders in people that the insanity defense cannot always protect. We can only hope that others will continue to use the plea when it is needed rather than abusing it to evade punishments for their crimes.
Works Cited
“Insanity.” Insanity. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.
<http://nationalparalegal.edu/public_documents/courseware_asp_files/criminalLaw/defense/Insanity.asp>.
Young, Gideon. “Top 10 Most Notorious Insanity Defense Cases.” Listverse. N.p., 1 Apr. 2012.
Web. 29 Jan. 2014. <http://listverse.com/2012/04/11/top-10-most-notorious-insanity-defense-cases/>.
“Position Statement 57: In Support of the Insanity Defense.” Mental Health America. N.p., n.d.
Web. 30 Jan. 2014. <http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/positions/insanity-defense>.
“Insanity Defense.” Legal Information Institute n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/insanity_defense>.
“Schizophrenia.” NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml?utm_source=publish2&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=www.kpbs.org>.
“A Crime of Insanity.” Frontline. WGBH, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/crime/trial/other.html>.