Question 1

John Hinkley was famous for ______.

Accepted Answer

John Hinkley is famous for attempting to assassinate former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Question 2

The two basic conditions of the M'Naghten rule are (1) the presence of a mental disorder and (2) ______.

Accepted Answer

The two basic conditions of the M'Naghten rule are the presence of a mental disorder and lack of comprehension of the wrongfulness of the act at the time of the act. The option (A) is partially correct, but only the presence of a mental disorder is not sufficient to M'Naghten's defense. Option (B) is also incorrect because the person's ability to control themselves is not the basis for the M'Naghten rule. Option (D) is incorrect because at the time of the trial, the person may have regained their comprehension and, therefore, does not qualify for a M'Naghten defense.

Question 3

Andrea Yates ______.

Accepted Answer

Andrea Yates drowned her five children in a bathtub in 2001.

Question 4

The MOST recent legal criteria for determining insanity are specified in the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 established the current legal criteria for determining insanity in federal courts. It created a new standard known as the "insanity defense reform act" which requires defendants to prove that as a result of a severe mental illness or defect, they were unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of their actions at the time of the crime.

Question 5

For a person to be able to appreciate the nature of the situation he or she is in and its consequences, he or she must be able to do all of the following EXCEPT ______.

Accepted Answer

While remembering committing the crime may provide additional context and perspective, it is not essential for a person to appreciate the nature of the situation they are in and its consequences. The other three options (knowing what a trial is, understanding potential outcomes, being aware of the specific trial's implications) are more directly related to this understanding.

Question 6

The first step in a trial in which the defendant is believed to be mentally ill is to determine ______.

Accepted Answer

The first step in a trial where the defendant is believed to be mentally ill is to determine if the defendant is competent to stand trial. This means the defendant must have a rational and factual understanding of the charges against them and be able to assist in their own defense. Only if the defendant is found competent can the trial proceed.

Question 7

Which choice is the BEST estimate of how often the insanity defense is used in our legal system?

Accepted Answer

Based on research and statistics, the use of the insanity defense is relatively rare and estimated to occur in less than 1% of criminal cases.

Question 8

The current criteria for the insanity defense in the United States are in part a response to the attempted assassination of the President in ______.

Accepted Answer

The attempted assassination of the President referred to in the question is that of Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. This event had a significant impact on the legal system, particularly the criteria for the insanity defense. The Insanity Defense Reform Act was passed in 1984 in response to this event, which made it more difficult for defendants to successfully use the defense.

Question 9

The Durham rule was based on a case that occurred in ______.

Accepted Answer

The Durham rule originated from a case in New Hampshire, specifically from the case of Durham v. United States in 1954, which addressed the issue of criminal responsibility in relation to mental illness.

Question 10

Shelvin is found not guilty by reason of insanity. He will ______.

Accepted Answer

If Shelvin is found not guilty by reason of insanity, he will face an indeterminate confinement in an institution until he is deemed safe to be released back into society.

Question 11

The legal term for mental illness is ______.

Accepted Answer

Insanity is the legal term used to describe a person's mental illness or incapacity, especially in the context of criminal cases where it may be used as a defense.

Question 12

As compared to the usual guilty verdict, the verdict of guilty but mentally ill ______.

Accepted Answer

The verdict of guilty but mentally ill specifies mandatory treatment in addition to incarceration, rather than precluding it or specifying shorter or longer sentences. This means that the individual will receive treatment for their mental illness while serving their sentence.

Question 13

Which type of information is NOT considered when determining whether a person is competent to stand trial?

Accepted Answer

Family mental health history is generally not considered directly relevant to determining a person's current competency to stand trial, which focuses on the individual's present mental state and ability to understand and participate in legal proceedings.

Question 14

The factors that are used to determine whether or not a person is competent to make a decision about his or her own treatment prior to standing trial do NOT include an evaluation of the individual's ability to ______.

Accepted Answer

The factors used to determine the competency of an individual to make decisions about their own treatment prior to standing trial typically focus on their ability to communicate a choice, understand relevant information, and appreciate the nature of the situation and its consequences. The individual's financial means or ability to afford other types of treatment are not typically considered as a factor in determining competency.

Question 15

Based on the textbook's discussion, the insanity defense is probably LEAST likely to be used by an individual diagnosed with ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the textbook's discussion, the insanity...

Question 16

An individual who believes that the members of a political party are conspiring against him is experiencing a(n) ______.

Accepted Answer

The individual is experiencing a delusion, which is a false belief that is not grounded in reality. The belief that a political party is conspiring against the individual is not supported by evidence or rational thought.

Question 17

By the ______, a person may be found not guilty by reason of insanity if they cannot control themselves, even if they know the difference between right and wrong.

Accepted Answer

The volitional test allows a person to be found not guilty by reason of insanity if they are unable to control their actions, even if they understand the difference between right and wrong.

Question 18

Daniel M'Naghten was a _____-schizophrenic experiencing delusions of ______.

Accepted Answer

According to historical accounts, Daniel M'Naghten was experiencing delusions of persecution, which is a common symptom of paranoid schizophrenia. Therefore, the best choice is D) paranoid; persecution.

Question 19

Over the past 75 years, the criteria for the insanity defense have ______.

Accepted Answer

The criteria for the insanity defense have become more stringent over the past 75 years. This is due, in part, to high-profile cases in which defendants successfully used the insanity defense, leading to changes in the law to make it more difficult to successfully plead insanity.

Question 20

By some insanity test criteria, an individual could be found not guilty by reason of insanity even if he or she knew he or she was committing a crime at the time he or she committed it. This is a shortcoming of ______.

Accepted Answer

Both the product and volitional tests have been criticized for allowing individuals who knew they were committing a crime to be found not guilty by reason of insanity, as they focus on different aspects of the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime. The product test looks at whether the defendant was unable to understand the wrongfulness of their actions, while the volitional test looks at whether they were unable to control their behavior due to a mental illness. In some cases, an individual may meet the criteria for both tests but still be aware that what they were doing was legally and morally wrong. This has led to concerns about the fairness and reliability of the insanity defense.

Quiz 16: The Law and Mental Health