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S 2902 97th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Civil Rights and Liberties Civil actions and liability Criminal procedure Criminal procedure and sentencing Disabled Insanity defense Mental illness Mentally handicapped Pretrial procedure Rights of institutionalized persons

A bill to define the affirmative defense of insanity and to provide a procedure for the commitment of offenders suffering from a mental disease or defect, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 14, 1982 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 14, 1982
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 792.
Sep 14, 1982
Introduced in the Senate, read twice.
Sep 14, 1982
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Federal criminal code to make it an affirmative defense to a Federal prosecution that at the time of the offense the defendant, as a result of mental disease or defect, lacked entirely the ability to understand the nature and the quality of his acts and to distinguish right from wrong.

Places the burden of proving insanity on the defendant.

Requires the court to hold a hearing to determine the present mental condition of the defendant. Directs the court to commit such person to the custody of the Attorney General upon a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that the person is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect, rendering him mentally incompetent. Directs the Attorney General to hospitalize such person in a suitable facility. Provides that when the defendant has recovered and is able to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him, the court will order his release and set a date for trial.

Authorizes a special verdict of "not guilty only by reason of insanity" for any criminal defendant who raises the issue of insanity by notice as provided by Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Provides for the hospitalization of persons found not guilty only by reason of insanity, convicted persons, imprisoned persons, and persons due for release who are found to suffer from mental disease or defect.

Allows for discharge when such person is found to have recovered. Requires reimprisonment of any such person for whom a term of prison sentence has not yet expired.

What's happening now September 14, 1982

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Regular Orders. Calendar No. 792.

 Related & companion bills 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2902: A bill to define the affirmative defense of insanity and to provide a procedure for the commitment of offenders suffering from a mental disease or defect, and for other purposes.. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-2902/
MLA
"S. 2902: A bill to define the affirmative defense of insanity and to provide a procedure for the commitment of offenders suffering from a mental disease or defect, and for other purposes.." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-2902/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2902, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-2902/.
Markdown link
[S. 2902: A bill to define the affirmative defense of insanity and to provide a procedure for the commitment of offenders suffering from a mental disease or defect, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-S-2902/)
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