Measuring the effects of the guilty but mentally ill (GBMI) verdict: Georgia's 1982 GBMI reform.

Callahan, Lisa; McGreevy, Margaret A.; Cirincione, Carmen; Steadman, Henry J.

doi:10.1007/bf02352269

“…Similarly, Georgia showed a decline in NGRI success rates for certain kinds of offenses, but there was no change in the overall success rate. Callahan, McGreevy, Ciricone, and Steadman (1992) also reported a decrease in the acquittal rate in Georgia for certain types of offenses in the year following implementation of GBMI. Their data show a slight but statistically significant downward trend between mid-1982 and 1983.…”

Section: More Drastic Proposals: the “Guilty But Mentally Ill” Pleamentioning

confidence: 95%

Empirical research on the insanity defense and attempted reforms: Evidence toward informed policy.

Borum¹,

Fulero²

1999

Law and Human Behavior

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The paper addresses some common questions about the insanity defense and issues raised by commonly proposed "reforms." The first section begins with a brief description of the insanity defense and the reasons for its existence in the law. It then examines some of the popular myths and public misperceptions surrounding the insanity defense. The next three sections discuss proposed "reforms" and the empirical research that addresses their effect. These reforms, including various procedural changes in definitions, burden of proof, and expert testimony, the institution of a guilty but mentally ill verdict, and the abolition of the insanity defense itself, are reviewed, along with relevant research findings and policy issues. Finally, the development of sound conditional release programs for criminal defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity is proposed as a reform option which could serve the objectives of enhancing public safety and access to appropriate treatment while continuing to meet the objectives of the insanity defense within criminal jurisprudence.Virtually all of us can recount the details of a well-publicized insanity defense case in our home state. For example, on January 26, 1995, a 26-year-old law student named Wendell Williamson armed himself with a rifle he took from his father's house. He then walked through the streets of a college town in North Carolina shooting at people in his path. By the end of this incident, two people were dead

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“…Compared with those defendants found guilty, those found GBMI receive longer sentences (Palmer & Hazelrigg, 2000). Contrary to the original intent, research suggests that states enacting GBMI have not seen corresponding reductions in insanity plea numbers (Callahan et al, 1992;Linhorst & Dirks-Linhorst, 1999;Palmer & Hazelrigg, 2000), although those that have also saw a decrease in NGRI acquittals that truly met statutory criteria (Bumby, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Approximately 12 states have used a plea option known as Guilty But Mentally Ill (GBMI). This finding results in a conviction, but with the expectation that psychiatric treatment be provided in the assigned correctional setting (Melville & Naimark, 2002), although no guaranteed right to treatment exists for this option (Callahan, McGreevy, Cirincione, & Steadman, 1992). When offered, this disposition was intended to offset the public's concern regarding the insanity defense by acknowledging the potential effects of mental illness on criminal behavior but committing the defendant to corrections and not a state psychiatric hospital.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tough on Crime or Beating the System

Dirks‐Linhorst

¹

,

Kondrat

²

2012

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Homicide defendants asserting the insanity defense make a volatile combination. Numerous studies review inmates with murder convictions, yet the literature is not rich regarding defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) for murder. This study analyzes 27 years of insanity acquittals in Missouri, finding significant differences between those defendants found NGRI for murder and those found NGRI for other crimes. The get-tough-on-crime initiatives found in the criminal justice system may have led to longer hospital stays post-1996 for NGRI murder acquittees, yet hospitalization lengths increased for all NGRI acquittees, a potential unintended consequence. Policy implications and future research directions are discussed.

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“…Similarly, Georgia showed a decline in NGRI success rates for certain kinds of offenses, but there was no change in the overall success rate. Callahan, McGreevy, Ciricone, and Steadman (1992) also reported a decrease in the acquittal rate in Georgia for certain types of offenses in the year following implementation of GBMI. Their data show a slight but statistically significant downward trend between mid1982 and 1983.…”

Section: More Drastic Proposals: the “Guilty But Mentally Ill” Pleamentioning

confidence: 95%

"Empirical research on the insanity defense and attempted reforms: Evidence toward informed policy": Erratum.

Borum¹,

Fulero²

1999

Law and Human Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The paper addresses some common questions about the insanity defense and issues raised by commonly proposed "reforms." The first section begins with a brief description of the insanity defense and the reasons for its existence in the law. It then examines some of the popular myths and public misperceptions surrounding the insanity defense. The next three sections discuss proposed "reforms" and the empirical research that addresses their effect. These reforms, including various procedural changes in definitions, burden of proof, and expert testimony, the institution of a guilty but mentally ill verdict, and the abolition of the insanity defense itself, are reviewed, along with relevant research findings and policy issues. Finally, the development of sound conditional release programs for criminal defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity is proposed as a reform option which could serve the objectives of enhancing public safety and access to appropriate treatment while continuing to meet the objectives of the insanity defense within criminal jurisprudence.Virtually all of us can recount the details of a well-publicized insanity defense case in our home state. For example, on January 26, 1995, a 26-year-old law student named Wendell Williamson armed himself with a rifle he took from his father's house. He then walked through the streets of a college town in North Carolina shooting at people in his path. By the end of this incident, two people were dead

show abstract

Measuring the effects of the guilty but mentally ill (GBMI) verdict: Georgia's 1982 GBMI reform.

Cited by 58 publications

References 19 publications

Empirical research on the insanity defense and attempted reforms: Evidence toward informed policy.

Empirical research on the insanity defense and attempted reforms: Evidence toward informed policy.

Tough on Crime or Beating the System

"Empirical research on the insanity defense and attempted reforms: Evidence toward informed policy": Erratum.

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