Proposal aims to change plea wording

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) -- The county prosecutor wants legislators to change the insanity plea in Ohio courts to a "guilty but insane" plea, rather than the current "not guilty" plea.
Prosecutor Robin Piper is working with lawmakers who plan to sponsor the legislation in Columbus, including state Rep. Greg Jolivette, R-Hamilton.
If the bill becomes law, it will replace the current "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea in Ohio's criminal courts.
Jolivette said Thursday that he plans to introduce the legislation within days. He said it was prompted by the acquittals of two defendants in high-profile slayings in Butler County, which includes Hamilton.
The proposal would allow imposition of a prison sentence or tighter monitoring of defendants after they are released from mental hospitals.
Twelve other states have similar legislation, backers said.
Efforts to pass similar legislation in Ohio have failed previously.
Butler County legislators proposed similar legislation in 1996 after murder defendant Raymond Tanner was acquitted by reason of insanity in the decapitation of his wife, Maria.