Irresistible Impulses: Defending the Insanity of Serial Murder

Everyone has their own definition of madness. Sometimes it’s difficult to articulate, but generally we know it when we see it.

How difficult is it to recognize crazy? But in the legal system, insanity—and by extension, criminal responsibility—often presents as a moving target, a blurry, indistinct concept. This changes dramatically, depending on whether the viewer is discussing the idea from a detached, removed academic conversation or instead, from the perspective of a victim’s emotionally scarred family member—when the idea of insanity represents nothing but an avenue for the offender to escape responsibility.

This book considers the madness of the insanity defense and the misconceptions about it, from many angles, with a specific focus on its use by the serial murderer. We’ll consider cases large and small, with input from the experts who have offered their opinions from courtrooms to the classrooms on this difficult decision.