Criminal Lunatics Act 1800

The Criminal Lunatics Act 1800 (39 & 40 Geo. 3, c. 94) was a British Act of Parliament that provided for the indefinite detention of mentally ill offenders.

Background
Before 1800, juries were able to consider whether a defendant was insane. However, there was no fixed procedure for dealing with such findings. Though the defendant would be acquitted, he might be released, if he had relatives willing to take responsibility for his care and behaviour, or committed back to jail. In 1800, public outrage followed the acquittal and release, on the grounds of insanity, of James Hadfield for the attempted murder of King George III.

The Act
The Act provided:

Repeal
The Act was repealed by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981, Sch 1, Pt III. Detention of mentally ill offenders is now governed by the Mental Health Act 1983, ss.35-41 and 47-49.