Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

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Which rule states that a person is not criminally responsible due to a mental disease affecting their understanding of right and wrong?

M'Naghten rule
Durham rule
Robinson rule
Insanity defense

The correct answer is: M'Naghten rule

The M'Naghten rule is a legal standard that determines whether a defendant can be held criminally responsible for their actions due to a mental illness. According to this rule, a person may be deemed not criminally responsible if, at the time of the crime, they were suffering from a severe mental disease or defect that prevented them from understanding the nature of their act or realizing that it was wrong. This rule places emphasis on the cognitive aspects of mental illness, focusing on the individual's ability to distinguish right from wrong. This rule has been influential in many jurisdictions and is frequently cited in court cases involving the insanity defense. The significance of the M'Naghten rule lies in its attempt to balance the need for moral culpability with the recognition that mental illness can impede an individual's ability to conform to societal standards of behavior. In contrast, the other options reference different tests or concepts related to mental illness and criminal behavior, but they don't specifically align with the focus on understanding right and wrong in the way the M'Naghten rule does.