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[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC17]

 
                 TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 
                             PART I--CRIMES
 
                      CHAPTER 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 17. Insanity defense

    (a) Affirmative Defense.--It is an affirmative defense to a 
prosecution under any Federal statute that, at the time of the 
commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a 
result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate 
the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts. Mental disease 
or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense.
    (b) Burden of Proof.--The defendant has the burden of proving the 
defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence.

(Added Pub. L. 98-473, title II, Sec. 402(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 
2057, Sec. 20; renumbered Sec. 17, Pub. L. 99-646, Sec. 34(a), Nov. 10, 
1986, 100 Stat. 3599.)