Legal definitions of insanity vary by state. There are basically 2, although some states make slight modifications. They are the McNaughton Rule and the ALI rule. Both require a defendent who is charged with a crime to meet certain requirements in order to be found legally "insane." (As an aside, "insane" is a legal determination. We have come to use the term as a synonym for "crazy," but in essence technically it means the mental state of an individual at the time of committing a crime. But I digress.) A defendant could certainly attempt to meet the definition of insanity in a court of law by claiming sleep deprivation; however, regardless of cause the defendent has to be able to prove some variation of s/he did not know the difference between right and wrong or that s/he could not have acted otherwise than s/he did. These concepts underlie most definitions of insanity.
I think it would be extremely unlikely that one could prevail on a claim that sleep deprivation was the cause of insanity. Insanity is an extremely difficult verdict to "win." It is invoked in only about 2-3% of all criminal trials and "successful" in about 1% of those. For example, Jeffrey Dahmer was not found insane.
Here is a site that deals more with legal insanity: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/crime/trial/states.html
2006-11-20 00:25:02
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answer #1
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answered by jurydoc 7
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Sure, its possible that you could be "legally insane" due to sleep deprivation if the crime was something that clearly had to do with being nuts (e.g. wandering around naked and having 20 minute conversations with inanimate objects, etc.) but if you did some atrocious act I doubt that "sleep deprivation" would likely get you put in a mental asylum instead of doing jail time. However, if you would stay up long enough to become insane due to "sleep deprivation" then you probably are nuts to begin with. If you did some atrocious act, it is unlikely that an insanity plea would do anything as even those with chronic and severe mental illnesses often do not get proven "not guilty by reason of insanity". The court does not deem people legally insane in cases of serious crimes except in very rare cases. These cases are usually when a person has a long term, severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and the criminal act was very clearly to do with their delusion. However, this is VERY difficult to prove and thus is very rarely successful
2013-11-18 17:08:00
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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I was having alot of anxiety before sleeping and could not fall asleep. Had many many sleepless nights.
I was just playing with the program one afternoon and wanted to listen to the �Power Nap� track. Next thing I knew I was waking up! Fell right asleep without trying. After using the �Fall Asleep� track, I could fall asleep right away. But I didn't realize that I shouldn't be using that one all night. Switched to Whole Night and have been using it ever since.
I can go to sleep with ease now. I just lay and listen to the sounds and next thing I know I am waking up from a nice sleep. I don't suffer from lack of sleep anymore. I keep an IPod with earbuds next to my bed and take it ALWAYS when traveling. The earbuds help block out ambient noise and the sleep tracks keep me sleeping sound :)
Reboot your brain & sleep soundly again?
2016-05-20 23:32:47
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Height IQ appears to be round a hundred and forty...Top as in, the nice IQ to have, on the SD 15 scale. This is centered on the ordinary of emient scientists, PhDs and nobel prize winners. As the IQ goes previous one hundred sixty there tends to be an increased expense of insanity, yes, and underachievement. IQ's above one hundred fifty are relatively no longer understood at all.
2016-08-09 22:59:33
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answer #4
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answered by kindle 4
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I dont think so
there is sleep deprivation, as when you have a baby that keeps you a wake for long periods and you sleep is interupted.
But never heard it called insane.
2006-11-19 22:45:36
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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I knew a dude who was awake for 3 days straight... military man... took out a fire hydrant and got away with it... even though he was driving na uninsured buddies car, with no license!
2006-11-19 22:50:16
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answer #6
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answered by pittiesrock 2
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How can you prove that I haven't slept in a week?
2006-11-19 22:44:50
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answer #7
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answered by jonas_tripps_79 2
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