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Analysis of Public Attitudes Toward the Insanity Defense

NCJ Number
110327
Journal
Criminology Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1986) Pages: 393-414
Author(s)
V P Hans
Date Published
1986
Length
22 pages
Annotation
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.
Abstract
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. (Publisher abstract)

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