§ 17. — Insanity defense.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC17]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 17. Insanity defense
(a) Affirmative Defense.--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) Burden of Proof.--The defendant has the burden of proving the
defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence.
(Added Pub. L. 98-473, title II, Sec. 402(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat.
2057, Sec. 20; renumbered Sec. 17, Pub. L. 99-646, Sec. 34(a), Nov. 10,
1986, 100 Stat. 3599.)
