| civil commitment | The commitment of a person to a mental institution because the state has decided that he or she is disturbed enough to require hospitalization.
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| false negative | In commitment hearings, a failure to commit a person when commitment is justified and necessary.
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| false positive | In commitment hearings, an unjustified commitment.
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| indeterminate sentences | Periods of incarceration with no limit, often given to defendants acquitted by reason of insanity.
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| insanity defense | A legal plea in which the defendant admits to having committed the crime but pleads not guilty, stating that because of mental disturbance he or she was not morally responsible at the time of the crime.
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| standard of proof | In commitment hearings, the degree of certainty required in order to commit someone to a mental institution. There must be "clear and convincing evidence" that the person is mentally ill and dangerous.
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