Legally Insane

When it comes to the court room, pleading insanity is one of the most used defenses today. Those how have committed first degree murder will attempt to plea insanity as a way to “get off the hook.” According to the text book, legally insane is the inability to understand that certain actions are wrong, in a legal sense, at the time of a crime. In order for the court to determine if someone is legally insane, the defendant must go through a series of stages such as taking the McNaughton test, talking to a therapist, etc. In my opinion, those who are insane and commit a criminal act should be sent to a mental hospital, however those who are faking should get automatic life in jail. Unfortunately, if someone gets sent to a mental hospital and it comes out that the entire thing was fake, the defendant cannot get retried due to the double jeopardy law. There are some cases the court sends an innocent person to death row. Well sometimes, then can send a sane person to a mental institution. I can’t help but wonder what the criminal justice system can do to help make the insanity plea something that is used only when needed and not as a copout plea for those who are guilty.