a defense that a crime was committed by a person who was intoxicated, which has been used to challenge a charge of criminal responsibility. If the intoxicant was taken involuntarily, it can negate criminal responsibility altogether. If the intoxicant was taken voluntarily, it may serve as a mitigating factor in reducing the penalty imposed, or it may be used to argue against premeditation in a first-degree murder charge. See diminished capacity.
n. an inflammation of the pancreas, marked by severe abdominal pain and caused by biliary tract disorders (e.g., gallstones), alcoholism, viral infection, or reactions to certain drugs (e.g., some antipsychotic agents).