APA Dictionary of Psychology

legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1984 that modified existing laws relating to insanity defense cases. One modification involved removing the volitional component of the American Law Institute Model Penal Code insanity test, so that the inability to “conform one’s conduct to the requirements of the law” was no longer a factor in judging insanity. Another modification involved shifting the burden of proof (responsibility for convincing the court beyond a reasonable doubt of the truth of an allegation) in such cases from the prosecution to the defense.