Book contents
- A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health Second Edition
- A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health Second Edition
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Part I Approaches to Mental Health and Illness: Conflicting Definitions and Emphases
- Part II The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness
- Part III Mental Health Systems and Policy
- 21 Understanding the Context and Dynamic Social Processes of Mental Health Treatment
- 22 Cultural Diversity and Mental Health Treatment
- 23 The Mental Health Consumers/Survivors Movement in the United States
- 24 Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
- 25 Mental Health Care in Organizations and Systems
- 26 Integrating Service Delivery Systems for Persons with a Severe Mental Illness
- 27 Consequences of Managed Care for Mental Health Providers
- 28 Mental Health and the Changing Context of HIV
- 29 Labeling and Stigma
- References
- Index
24 - Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
from Part III - Mental Health Systems and Policy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
Book contents
- A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health Second Edition
- A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health Second Edition
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Part I Approaches to Mental Health and Illness: Conflicting Definitions and Emphases
- Part II The Social Context of Mental Health and Illness
- Part III Mental Health Systems and Policy
- 21 Understanding the Context and Dynamic Social Processes of Mental Health Treatment
- 22 Cultural Diversity and Mental Health Treatment
- 23 The Mental Health Consumers/Survivors Movement in the United States
- 24 Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
- 25 Mental Health Care in Organizations and Systems
- 26 Integrating Service Delivery Systems for Persons with a Severe Mental Illness
- 27 Consequences of Managed Care for Mental Health Providers
- 28 Mental Health and the Changing Context of HIV
- 29 Labeling and Stigma
- References
- Index
Summary
Two prevailing beliefs held by the public (and many professionals) connect mental illness to the criminal justice system: first, a belief that deinstitutionalization has led to criminalization of mental illness, and second, a belief that mentally ill persons are dangerous and likely to commit crimes, especially violent crimes. This chapter reviews the available empirical evidence for these beliefs. Most studies of arrest of persons with mental illness have not controlled for comorbidities, despite existing research that shows that mentally ill persons with character disorders and substance abuse are much more likely to offend and have higher arrest rates than other mentally ill persons. The public's concern about coddling criminals and the subsequent release of not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) offenders into the community seems to be unwarranted. Mental health and social welfare systems with severely inadequate resources try to ameliorate the effects of such deleterious social conditions.
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- A Handbook for the Study of Mental HealthSocial Contexts, Theories, and Systems, pp. 478 - 498Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009
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