Insanity and diminished capacity

{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-002649",
  "term": "Insanity and diminished capacity",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "Legal defenses that address a defendant's mental state at the time of an alleged crime. Insanity asserts that the defendant lacked the mental capacity to be held criminally responsible for their actions. Diminished capacity, a lesser defense, argues that the defendant's mental impairment prevented them from forming the specific intent required for a particular crime, potentially reducing the charge to a lesser offense.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/insanity-and-diminished-capacity/"
}