Writing Project 2 : Analyzing Research

Mental Illness has been prevalent all throughout our history from Isaac Newton to Abraham Lincoln to Sylvia Plath and so on. These illnesses can be as minor as a slight bipolar disorder or as severe as schizophrenia. In recent years, mental illnesses are becoming more prevalent in our criminal justice systems than anywhere else. Mental illness is becoming an association with crime and based on the information that has been found, this paper will attempt to further define the problem of mental illness within our criminal justice system and offer alternatives or insights as to how to possibly help with this problem.

Mental health and the criminal justice system have long been intertwined. Analyzing and understanding the links between these two subjects demands for a person to go in to depth in the fields of criminology, sociology, psychology, and psychiatry, because there are many points of view on whether or not a person’s criminal behavior is due to their mental health. Some believe that an unstable mental state of mind can highly influence a person’s decision of committing criminal actions. Others believe that mental health and crime are not related and that linking them together is a form of discrimination because it insinuates that those in our society that suffer from poor mental health are most likely to become a criminal due to their

In addition to any potential financial stressors an individual may be experiencing that could trigger a violent episode, there may be a mental illness that makes the bad situation worse. Conditions such as, anti-social personality disorder, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder are just a few illnesses that can make a potentially violent situation go from bad to worse. The negative effects of an individual’s illness make can make a person think that whatever problem they are having that is making them angry, is worse than it really is, potentially making their violent outburst worse. The stress this puts on the victim has a high probability of passing on an emotional disorder to them on top of the abuse they are enduring. (Blasco-Ros, Concepcion, Sanchez-Lorente, & Martinez, 2010)

Aggression and violence has long been associated with mental illness, especially those suffering from psychosis (reviewed by Singh et al. 1). To what extent individuals suffering from schizophrenia contribute to the prevalence of criminal violence is the theme of this research report.

Violence can be harmful and destructive to the psychological, physical or material state of others (Steadman & Cocozza, 1978). When the offender is a forensic psychiatric patient it is considered that the individual is unfit to stand trial or unable to understand the responsibility and reality of the crime (Douglas, Ogloff, & Hart, 2003). Judicial systems take into consideration to what extend the crime was commited by a person due to a mental dissability and resprctfull mental health institutions require reliable tools for mental health risk assessment and also management of offenders (Gendreau, Little, & Goggin, 1996; Doyle, Dolan & McGovern, 2002); Also needed, to assert equitable

Over the past few decades, many researches have strived to test and explain the correlation between violence and crime and mental illness. Moore and Hiday (2006) assert that up 22% of inmates has a mental illness, sometimes containing more mental illness patients than many psychiatric units. Due to these statistics it is evident how important it is to understand the causes of the correlations between crime and violence and mental disorders. This proposal wishes to explain and understand the possible correlation and the reasons for such correlation between mental health illnesses and violence and crime. Further research to test

The article “Mental Illness and Violence” talks about criminals that are violence and what factors play a large roll in a persons actions and behavior. The factors that contribute to a person being violent come down to background, emotions, and if they choose to use substances. The fact that in the article people with substance abuse are likely to become violent and sent to jail without looking in to what is going on with them mentality. It is seen that if

This journal was posted by the American Journal of Psychiatry in order to prove the link between mentally ill people not taking their medicine, but rather using drugs, and the correlation of these factors to violence. Swartz claims that people who are mentally unstable in addition to abusing drugs would be more likely to partake in violent crimes. Swartz conducted a study in order to prove his claims. In his study, 331 people were studied through interviews, conversations with family members. Swartz also looked into the individuals’ mental health background to find any violent acts done within 4 months of being hospitalized for their illness. From this research study, it was found that substance abuse, along with mental illness often result

According to the survey conducted by Australian bureau of statics in 2007 one in every five Australian aged 16-85 had a mental disorder. Mental health problem is the behavioural pattern that occur in an individual, which is caused by psychological defects (DSM V). It is contemplated that mental health problems increase the risk of violent offending but researchers suggest that mental health problem does not play a leading role in violent offending. There are other factors which in combination with mental health will increase the risk of violent offending. This point is argued in the light of research done in people with schizophrenia and criminal offending (Morgan et al 2012), which is a whole-of-population data covering all of western Australia. We will also look into research which shows the percentage of schizophrenia patients who have done violent offending after their first contact with the mental hospital (Munkner, Haastrup, Sci, Joergensen & Kramp 2005). Another article on psychiatric case register from the state of Victoria in Australia which is one of the world largest psychiatric register looks into schizophrenia in association with violent offending (Wallace, Mullen & Burgess 2004). Yet another research discussed in this essay looks for schizophrenia as a predictor of violent offending (Soyka, Graz, Bottlender, Dirschedl & Schoech). A comparison study of offending in high function autistic spectrum disorder and community sample done by Smith, Clare, Holland &

This worksheet is for analyzing primary sources, which for the purpose of this project are popular culture media: texts created for a mass audience with some commercial component, either through sales, subscription, or advertising revenue: advertisements, videos, television shows, news articles or programs, popular music, etc.

In order to understand what role mental illness plays when it comes to violence, it is vital to examine current empirical data surrounding the issue. According to a study by American Psychiatrist Paul S. Appelbaum, the mentally ill are responsible for only 3% to 5% of crimes in the United States. (4) Additionally, according to the National Center for Health statistics, fewer than 5% of of the 120,00 gun-related murders in the United States between the years 2001 and 2010 were carried out by people diagnosed with mental illnesses. (4) The most prominent indicators of a person’s propensity for violence are substance abuse and a history of domestic violence. (6) Taking this into consideration, it would be counterproductive to focus preventative

Finocchiaro, Maurice. "A Galilean Approach to the Galileo Affair, 1609-2009." Science & Education 20, no. 1 (January 2011): 51-66. Education Research Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed March 22, 2014).

Victimization: the unjust or cruel treatment of an individual with the intention of causing mental, physical, or emotional harm. Being victimized is a tragic occurrence that can happen to anyone; however, certain groups of people are more likely to become victimized. According to recent research, individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victimized in a violent crime than their non-mentally ill counterparts. This research revolves around a universal question: why? This analysis will describe the numerous theories and data produced in attempt to answer the question, while simultaneously incorporating my own perspective.

Ronalda, I agree that family violence can be based on several different theories. The psychopathology theory explains factors that contribute to family violence on a medical level. According to this theory people with mental illnesses and personality disorders are more likely to participate or condone family violence. I agree with that personality traits and mental illness should be considered when in a family violence case, but I also think other factors need to be considered.

An important fact about crime is that it could be based off a serious behavior problem, but it could also be based off a serious mental problem. Many of those who commit a crime aren’t convicted due to a mental illness so it is important to note, that for the purpose of this analysis, that every illegal activity is counted as a crime, regardless of conviction (Monahan and Steadman 1983). Monahan and Steadman also stated that some researchers argue that mental disorders correlating factors of crime includes; previous experiences, their social class, and age. It is clearly obvious that those