Temporary Insanity Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Temporary Insanity.

Temporary Insanity (noun):

A defense used in criminal law cases where the accused argues that they were suffering from a temporary mental disorder at the time when the crime was committed. This condition made them unable to understand the nature or illegality of their actions. It is called 'temporary' because it is believed to have existed only during the commission of the crime and has no lasting effects. Evidence for this claim often relies on behavior immediately before or after the crime. If accepted, this defense can potentially reduce the degree of the crime and the resulting sentence.