With a few exceptions applied, every single crime has to have at least three elements. A criminal act, a criminal intent, and concurrence of the two. One more requirement that isn't really necessary for every single crime is attendant circumstances. There are many features of crime such as Mental state, involving the sanity of the person. Most likely if they have been admitted to hospitals multiple times for something they've done to themselves, they're mental sanity would be lower than normal. Many crime are committed because of the mental fault. Conduct is another element, a lawful omission of an act must occur in order for this. Concurrence, only occurs if two other elements are also noticed, Conduct and Mental State. Causation is where actual harm must occur, but it's very complex, making it difficult to prove. There are so many defenses that could be used so the guilty or not-guilty person can please innocence. They can use the causal, "I didn't do it" which- isn't really a good way of getting out of why you're in a court room. The "I didn't do it" defense mechanism includes Innocent until Proven Guilty, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, and I have an Alibi. "I did it, but shouldn't be held responsible", this basically shows self-defense, insanity defense, under the influence defense, and more. If you're going to admit to a crime, then why not just take the punishment for it so you don't do it again? Though it is different for every case.
This is exactly 250 words. :P
