In many of the individual
United States, but not all of them, this is a possible
verdict in
criminal cases.
This verdict is an acquital, it is NOT a conviction.
This ruling holds that at the time of the crime, although not necessarily at the time of the trial, a person was not responsible for their actions because of a mental disease or defect. Generally interpreted as mental retardation, brain injury or serious mental illness. Severe impairment due to substance abuse has been consistently held to be not applicable.
The US legal standard is based on the McNaughton standard, which is a legal standard established in English courts in the 1800s that says that defendents must understand the "wrongfulness of what they are doing at the time of the crime to be held responsible for that crime"
Statistically, your chance of winning this verdict in a felony criminal case is about 1 out of 100.
See APA, the American Psychological Association or the ABA American Bar Association, the big club for lawyers, for detailed information.