The Insanity Defense Credits: 1-2

Catalog description

This course will review several aspects of the insanity defense: its history, how it works, and the public perception of the defense. The course will focus on the trial of John Hinckley Jr. for attempted murder of President Ronald Reagan as a vehicle for discussing how the defense is presented, the changes in the defense that the verdict in that trial brought about, recent significant cases and possible future changes in the defense.