Which insanity standard is described as the Substantial Capacity test under the Model Penal Code?

Which insanity standard is described as the Substantial Capacity test under the Model Penal Code?

• A. M'Naghten test
• B. Duress
• C. Substantial capacity test
• D. Retreatment

Answer: (C)

The Model Penal Code uses the substantial capacity test for insanity. This standard says that a defendant is not responsible for a crime if, because of a mental disease or defect, they lack substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law. It combines both understanding of wrong vs. right and the ability to control conduct, making it broader than pure cognitive tests. This differs from the M'Naghten approach, which focuses only on knowing right from wrong, and from other standards that emphasize impulse control rather than the dual capacity to understand and to conform. So the described test, named the substantial capacity test, is the Model Penal Code standard.

The Model Penal Code uses the substantial capacity test for insanity. This standard says that a defendant is not responsible for a crime if, because of a mental disease or defect, they lack substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of their conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law. It combines both understanding of wrong vs. right and the ability to control conduct, making it broader than pure cognitive tests. This differs from the M'Naghten approach, which focuses only on knowing right from wrong, and from other standards that emphasize impulse control rather than the dual capacity to understand and to conform. So the described test, named the substantial capacity test, is the Model Penal Code standard.