New York legal term
Dangerous mental disorder in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Dangerous mental disorder” 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 New York criminal code.
What does “Dangerous mental disorder” mean in New York criminal law?
"Dangerous mental disorder" means: (i) that a defendant currently suffers from a "mental illness" as that term is defined in subdivision twenty of section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law, and (ii) that because of such condition he currently constitutes a physical danger to himself or others. (d) "Mentally ill" means that a defendant currently suffers from a mental illness for which care and treatment as a patient, in the in-patient services of a psychiatric center under the jurisdiction of the state office of mental health, is essential to such defendant's welfare and that his or her judgment (N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 330.20)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.