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AN ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE INSANITY DEFENSE *
Author(s) -
HANS VALERIE P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
criminology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.467
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1745-9125
pISSN - 0011-1384
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1986.tb01502.x
Subject(s) - insanity , plea , insanity defense , psychology , public opinion , perception , criminology , retributive justice , social psychology , law , political science , psychiatry , economic justice , neuroscience , politics
Results from a public opinion survey of knowledge, attitudes, and support for the insanity defense indicate that people dislike the insanity defense for both retributive and utilitarian reasons: they want insane lawbreakers punished, and they believe that insanity defense procedures fail to protect the public. However, people vastly overestimate the use and success of the insanity plea. Several attitudinal and demographic variables that other researchers have found to be associated with people's support for the death penalty and perceptions of criminal sentencing are also related to support for the insanity defense. Implications for public policy are discussed.