CHAPTER 2. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE OF INSANITY OR MENTAL ILLNESS; PLEADINGS, ORDERS, AND FINDINGS
IC 35-36-2
Chapter 2. Affirmative Defense of Insanity or Mental Illness;
Pleadings, Orders, and Findings
IC 35-36-2-1
Time of filing
Sec. 1. When the defendant in a criminal case intends to interpose
the defense of insanity, he must file a notice of that intent with the
trial court no later than:
(1) twenty (20) days if the defendant is charged with a felony;
or
(2) ten (10) days if the defendant is charged only with one (1)
or more misdemeanors;
before the omnibus date. However, in the interest of justice and upon
a showing of good cause, the court may permit the filing to be made
at any time before commencement of the trial.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.298, SEC.5. Amended by Acts 1982,
P.L.204, SEC.29.
IC 35-36-2-2
Admissibility of evidence; psychiatrists, psychologists, or
physicians; defendant's failure to communicate, participate, and
cooperate with court appointed medical witnesses
Sec. 2. (a) At the trial of a criminal case in which the defendant
intends to interpose the defense of insanity, evidence may be
introduced to prove the defendant's sanity or insanity at the time at
which the defendant is alleged to have committed the offense
charged in the indictment or information.
(b) When notice of an insanity defense is filed, the court shall
appoint two (2) or three (3) competent disinterested psychiatrists,
psychologists endorsed by the state psychology board as health
service providers in psychology, or physicians, at least one (1) of
whom must be a psychiatrist, to examine the defendant and to testify
at the trial. This testimony shall follow the presentation of the
evidence for the prosecution and for the defense, including testimony
of any medical experts employed by the state or by the defense.
(c) If a defendant does not adequately communicate, participate,
and cooperate with the medical witnesses appointed by the court,
after being ordered to do so by the court, the defendant may not
present as evidence the testimony of any other medical witness:
(1) with whom the defendant adequately communicated,
participated, and cooperated; and
(2) whose opinion is based upon examinations of the defendant;
unless the defendant shows by a preponderance of the evidence that
the defendant's failure to communicate, participate, or cooperate with
the medical witnesses appointed by the court was caused by the
defendant's mental illness.
(d) The medical witnesses appointed by the court may be
cross-examined by both the prosecution and the defense, and each
side may introduce evidence in rebuttal to the testimony of such a
medical witness.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.298, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.321-1983,
SEC.2; P.L.19-1986, SEC.59; P.L.149-1987, SEC.119; P.L.77-2004,
SEC.3.
IC 35-36-2-3
Finding of jury
Sec. 3. In all cases in which the defense of insanity is interposed,
the jury (or the court if tried by it) shall find whether the defendant
is:
(1) guilty;
(2) not guilty;
(3) not responsible by reason of insanity at the time of the
crime; or
(4) guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.298, SEC.5.
IC 35-36-2-4
Finding of nonresponsibility by reason of insanity; commitment
procedures; requirements of the superintendent and attending
physician; transmittal of information to NICS
Sec. 4. (a) Whenever a defendant is found not responsible by
reason of insanity at the time of the crime, the prosecuting attorney
shall file a written petition with the court under IC 12-26-6-2(a)(3)
or under IC 12-26-7. If a petition is filed under IC 12-26-6-2(a)(3),
the court shall hold a commitment hearing under IC 12-26-6. If a
petition is filed under IC 12-26-7, the court shall hold a commitment
hearing under IC 12-26-7.
(b) The hearing shall be conducted at the earliest opportunity after
the finding of not responsible by reason of insanity at the time of the
crime, and the defendant shall be detained in custody until the
completion of the hearing. The court may take judicial notice of
evidence introduced during the trial of the defendant and may call the
physicians appointed by the court to testify concerning whether the
defendant is currently mentally ill and dangerous or currently
mentally ill and gravely disabled, as those terms are defined by
IC 12-7-2-96 and IC 12-7-2-130(1). The court may subpoena any
other persons with knowledge concerning the issues presented at the
hearing.
(c) The defendant has all the rights provided by the provisions of
IC 12-26 under which the petition against the defendant was filed.
The prosecuting attorney may cross-examine the witnesses and
present relevant evidence concerning the issues presented at the
hearing.
(d) If a court orders an individual to be committed under
IC 12-26-6 or IC 12-26-7 following a verdict of not responsible by
reason of insanity at the time of the crime, the superintendent of the
facility to which the individual is committed and the attending
physician are subject to the requirements of IC 12-26-15-1.
(e) If a defendant is found not responsible by reason of insanity,
the court shall transmit any information required by the division of
state court administration to the division of state court administration
for transmission to the NICS (as defined in IC 35-47-2.5-2.5) in
accordance with IC 33-24-6-3.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.298, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.200-1983,
SEC.4; P.L.2-1992, SEC.869; P.L.77-2004, SEC.4; P.L.110-2009,
SEC.13.
IC 35-36-2-5
Finding or plea of guilty but mentally ill; evaluation; sentence;
treatment; transmittal of information to NICS
Sec. 5. (a) Except as provided by subsection (e), whenever a
defendant is found guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime or
enters a plea to that effect that is accepted by the court, the court
shall sentence the defendant in the same manner as a defendant found
guilty of the offense.
(b) Before sentencing the defendant under subsection (a), the
court shall require the defendant to be evaluated by a physician
licensed under IC 25-22.5 who practices psychiatric medicine, a
licensed psychologist, or a community mental health center (as
defined in IC 12-7-2-38). However, the court may waive this
requirement if the defendant was evaluated by a physician licensed
under IC 25-22.5 who practices psychiatric medicine, a licensed
psychologist, or a community mental health center and the evaluation
is contained in the record of the defendant's trial or plea agreement
hearing.
(c) If a defendant who is found guilty but mentally ill at the time
of the crime is committed to the department of correction, the
defendant shall be further evaluated and then treated in such a
manner as is psychiatrically indicated for the defendant's mental
illness. Treatment may be provided by:
(1) the department of correction; or
(2) the division of mental health and addiction after transfer
under IC 11-10-4.
(d) If a defendant who is found guilty but mentally ill at the time
of the crime is placed on probation, the court may, in accordance
with IC 35-38-2-2.3, require that the defendant undergo treatment.
(e) As used in this subsection, "individual with mental
retardation" has the meaning set forth in IC 35-36-9-2. If a court
determines under IC 35-36-9 that a defendant who is charged with a
murder for which the state seeks a death sentence is an individual
with mental retardation, the court shall sentence the defendant under
IC 35-50-2-3(a).
(f) If a defendant is found guilty but mentally ill, the court shall
transmit any information required by the division of state court
administration to the division of state court administration for
transmission to the NICS (as defined in IC 35-47-2.5-2.5) in
accordance with IC 33-24-6-3.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.298, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.320-1983,
SEC.21; P.L.1-1991, SEC.191; P.L.2-1992, SEC.870; P.L.1-1993,
SEC.239; P.L.158-1994, SEC.2; P.L.121-1996, SEC.3;
P.L.215-2001, SEC.108; P.L.99-2007, SEC.200; P.L.110-2009,
SEC.14.