Legal Definitions - product test

Definition: A test used in criminal law to determine if a defendant is not criminally responsible for an act due to mental disease or defect. The product test, also known as the Durham rule, holds that the act was a product of the defendant's mental condition.

Example: In the case of Durham v. United States, the defendant argued that he was not responsible for his actions due to mental illness. The court applied the product test and found that his actions were a product of his mental condition, and therefore he was not criminally responsible.

Explanation: The product test is used to determine if a defendant's actions were a direct result of their mental condition. If it is found that the actions were a product of their mental illness, they may not be held criminally responsible. This test has been criticized for being too broad and is no longer accepted in any American jurisdiction.