Criminally Insane vs Mentally ill: What’s the Difference and why does it Matter?

Send us Fan MailHow many times have you used the word “insane” when talking about infamous serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy? While we don’t disagree that these guys were mentally ill, there’s a big difference between criminally insane and mentally ill. Join Jen and Carolyn as they discuss the insanity defense and why more often than not, defendants who invoke it are unsuccessful in convincing courts that they didn’t know the difference between right and wrong when committing crimes. not guilty by reason of insanity7 Serial Killers Who Pleaded Insanity‘Crazy, Not Insane’ Review: Inside the Criminal Mind - The New York Times'Crazy, Not Insane' Review: Alex Gibney's Fascinating Documentary About What Makes a Serial KillerWhen ‘Not Guilty’ Is a Life Sentence - The New York TimesMisconceptions About the Insanity Defense That Will Drive You Nuts! By Dr. Jeffrey SingerA Brief History of the Insanity Defense | Psychology Today.What Care for the Criminally Insane Can Teach Us About Mental HealthCriminal Psychology Nature, Nurture, CultureNYTimes Article: Lorena Bobbit Acquitted in Mutilation of Husband