The Legal Defence of Mental Illness

A person is not criminally responsible for an offence in New South Wales if the person had a mental health impairment or cognitive impairment at the time of carrying out the act constituting the offence which meant the person:

1. Did not known the nature or quality of their act, or

2. Did not know their act was wrong; in other words, could not reason with a moderate degree of sense and composure about whether their act, as perceived by reasonable people, was wrong.

A person who is found not guilty of a serious offence by reason of mental illness will normally be detained involuntarily at a mental health facility until the conditions for their discharge are met.

Going to Court? (02) 9261 8881

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