Many people are familiar with the insanity defense because it is commonly used in movies and television programs about law. However, most people are unfamiliar with why the insanity defense is an acceptable legal defense.

It is an acceptable legal defense because it gets to the heart of one of the principles for proving someone is guilty. For someone to be determined guilty, the prosecutors must prove that the defendant intended to commit the crime.

By definition, an insanity defense attempts to show that a person did not intend to commit a crime for various reasons related to a mental illness.

If you have been charged with a crime and believe you have an acceptable insanity defense plea, contact the Champaign criminal defense lawyers of Thomas A. Bruno & Associates at 217-328-6000.