APA Dictionary of Psychology

a legal standard for establishing criminal responsibility, adopted in 1962, that combines elements of the M’Naghten rule and the irresistible impulse rule. According to this standard, individuals are not responsible for criminal conduct if mental illness or defect rendered them either unable to understand at the time that what they were doing was against the law or unable to control their behavior enough to keep from breaking the law. Also called American Law Institute Guidelines (ALI Guidelines); Brawner decision; Brawner rule. See also Insanity Defense Reform Act.