What is Insanity Defense in Criminal Law?

Insanity defense is a legal strategy used by a criminal defendant to avoid conviction by proving that he or she was legally insane at the time of the crime. To be successful, the defendant must meet the criteria set forth in the jurisdiction’s law, which vary from state to state. Typically, insanity defense requires defendants to prove that they did not understand the nature of their actions or that they could not control their behavior. Some states also require defendants to demonstrate that they were suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the crime.