18 U.S.C. § 17
Title 18
Chapter 1
Current through PL 116-220
~1 min read
Last updated: March 30, 2026
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Sections in this chapter
§ 17. Insanity defense
- (a) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under any Federal statute that, at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts. Mental disease or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense.
- (b) The defendant has the burden of proving the defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence.
Change History
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Case Law
View all on CourtListener →- Appellate
- Appellate United States v. Rendelman (2012)
- District
- District United States v. Dupre (2004)
- District United States v. Polizzi (2008)