Legal Definitions - GBMI

Definition: GBMI stands for "Guilty But Mentally Ill." It is a legal verdict that can be given to a defendant who is found guilty of a crime, but also has a mental illness that may have contributed to their actions.

For example, if someone with schizophrenia commits a crime, they may be found guilty but also diagnosed as mentally ill. In this case, they could be given a GBMI verdict, which means they will still be punished for their crime, but they will also receive mental health treatment while in prison.

Another example could be a person with bipolar disorder who commits a crime during a manic episode. They may be found guilty but also diagnosed as mentally ill, and given a GBMI verdict.

These examples illustrate how a GBMI verdict takes into account both the criminal actions of the defendant and their mental illness, and aims to provide both punishment and treatment.