Abstract
Ever since the inception of insanity as a formal defense, the laws have required that successful insanity acquittees be hospitalized, usually indefinitely. While hospitalization is typically appropriate clinically, and is necessary for public protection until the acquittee's mental disorder is under adequate control, a number of acquittees have been living successfully in the community awaiting trial and do not require hospitalization. The author presents several illustrative cases and discusses the legal and social barriers preventing many of these acquittees from remaining in the community after an insanity acquittal.
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