Legal Definitions - NGRI

Definition: NGRI stands for "not guilty by reason of insanity." It is a plea or verdict in a criminal case where the defendant is found not guilty because they were legally insane at the time of the crime.

For example, if someone with a severe mental illness commits a crime, they may plead NGRI. If the court agrees that they were not in their right mind when they committed the crime, they may be sent to a mental institution instead of prison.

NGRI is different from a regular not guilty plea or verdict, where the defendant is found not guilty because the prosecution did not prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Overall, NGRI is a legal defense that can be used in certain cases where the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime is a significant factor.