Indiana legal term
Mentally ill in Indiana Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Indiana legislative session
In Indiana criminal law, “Mentally ill” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Indiana criminal code.
What does “Mentally ill” mean in Indiana criminal law?
"Mentally ill" means having a psychiatric disorder which substantially disturbs a person's thinking, feeling, or behavior and impairs the person's ability to function. (Ind. Code § 35-36-1-1)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.