Sometimes when the jury renders a verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity," the defendant spends more time in a mental hospital than he or she would have spent in prison if found "guilty."

Question

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When a defendant is found "not guilty by reason of insanity," they are often committed to a mental health facility for treatment. The duration of their stay is not fixed and depends on assessments of their mental health and risk to the public, potentially leading to a longer confinement than a prison sentence would have been.

Sometimes When the Jury Renders a Verdict of "Not Guilty