Women in Oregon's Insanity Defense System

Abstract

This article examines and compares women and men who successfully used the insanity defense in Oregon over a four and a half–year period. There was no significant difference between men and women in diagnoses or types of trial proceedings. A significantly greater percentage of women committed homicides, but since women also committed a greater percentage of misdemeanors, the average seriousness of crimes did not differ significantly between men and women. Nonetheless, women were released from hospitalization more frequently and after shorter stays than men. The authors discuss possible explanations for this apparent bias in favor of women.