Tipping the scales of justice: the role of forensic evaluations in the criminalization of mental illness

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-160
Author(s):  
Katherine E. McCallum ◽  
W. Neil Gowensmith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Forensic Evaluations ◽  
State Hospitals ◽  
Number Of Individuals

An unprecedented number of individuals with mental illness are represented in the criminal justice system. The unending growth of mentally ill populations in the justice system has led to jails and court dockets being increasingly overwhelmed with cases involving mental illness, state hospitals devoting far more beds and resources to forensic cases, and people without a criminal commitment left waiting for mental health services as forensic cases are prioritized. Although a forensic mental health evaluation is only one component of this larger system, common problems with forensic mental health evaluations can exacerbate the criminalization of persons with mental illness in many ways. This article reviews the current literature regarding issues of quality, reliability, and validity of forensic mental health evaluations, discusses the broader impact of these issues, and offers potential solutions for the field.

Economics of decriminalizing mental illness: when doing the right thing costs less

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-570
Author(s):  
Darci Delgado ◽  
Ashley Breth ◽  
Shelley Hill ◽  
Katherine Warburton ◽  
Stephen M. Stahl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Justice System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diversion Programs ◽  
State Hospitals ◽  
Complicated Process ◽  
The Right ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Sheer Number

The United States’ criminal justice system has seen exponential growth in costs related to the incarceration of persons with mental illness. Jails, prisons, and state hospitals’ resources are insufficient to adequately treat the sheer number of individuals cycling through their system. Reversing the cycle of criminalization of mental illness is a complicated process, but mental health diversion programs across the nation are uniquely positioned to do just that. Not only are these programs providing humane treatment to individuals within the community and breaking the cycle of recidivism, the potential fiscal savings are over 1 billion dollars.

scholarly journals The new mission of forensic mental health systems: managing violence as a medical syndrome in an environment that balances treatment and safety

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 368-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Warburton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
State Hospital ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Primary Reason ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
State Hospitals ◽  
Reason For Admission

The association between violence and mental illness is well-studied, yet remains highly controversial. Currently, there appears to be a trend of increasing violence in state hospital settings, including both civilly and forensically committed populations. In fact, physical aggression is the primary reason for admission to many state hospitals. Given that violence is now often both a reason for admission and a barrier to discharge, there is a case to be made for psychiatric violence to be re-conceptualized dimensionally, as a primary syndrome, not as the byproduct of one. Furthermore, treatment settings need to be enhanced to address the new types of violence exhibited in inpatient environments, and this modification needs to be geared toward balancing safety with treatment.

Socio Demographic and Clinical Profile of Indoor Female Patients of RINPAS

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Rajni Suri ◽  
Anshu Suri ◽  
Neelam Kumari ◽  
Amool R. Singh ◽  
Manisha Kiran
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional

The role of women is very crucial in our society. She cares for her parents, partner, children and other relatives. She performs all types of duties in family and also in the society without any expectations. Because of playing many roles, women often face many challenges in their life including both physical and mental. Mental health problems affect women and men equally, but some problems are more common among women including both physical and mental health problems. Aim of the study - The present study is aimed to describe and compare the clinical and socio-demographic correlates of female mentally ill patients. Methods and Materials: The study includes 180 female mentally ill patients based on cross sectional design and the sample for the study was drawn purposively. A semi structured socio-demographic data sheet was prepared to collect relevant information as per the need of the study. Result: The present study reveals that the socio-demographic factors contribute a vital role in mental illness. Findings also showed that majority of patients had mental problems in the age range of 20-30 have high rate. Illiterate and primary level of education and daily wage working women as well as low and middle socio-economic status women are more prone to have mental illness. Other factors like marital status, type of family and religion etc also important factors for mental illness. Keywords: Socio demographic profile, female, psychiatric patient

Comment: ‘Devining’ The Role of the Consultant Psychiatrist in a Public Mental Health Service

1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 612-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Rosen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Consultant Psychiatrist ◽  
Persistent Mental Illness ◽  
Public Mental Health Service ◽  
Key Players ◽  
Recovery Program

We admitted to ourselves, …and to our colleagues that we cannot treat people with severe and persistent mental illness as independent practitioners, and asked to be key players on the multidisciplinary team (Extract from A 12-Step Recovery Program for Psychiatrists [1]).

Do community mental health teams caring for severely mentally ill patients adjust treatments and services based on patients’ antisocial or criminal behaviours?

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 373-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hodgins ◽  
A. Cree ◽  
F. Khalid ◽  
K. Patel ◽  
R. Sainz-Fuentes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Positive Symptoms ◽  
Severely Mentally Ill

AbstractBackgroundAntisocial behaviour is common among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) requiring hospitalisation.AimTo determine whether differential treatments and services are provided to patients with SMI who engage in antisocial behaviour.MethodA random sample of 161 inpatients with SMI were recruited from general adult wards and assessed at baseline and two years later. Information on symptoms, aggressive behaviour, substance misuse, and service use was obtained from patients and clinical files.ResultsPast antisocial behaviours were not associated with type or intensity of treatments and services. Severity of positive symptoms, aggressive behaviour, and illicit drug use were positively associated with the frequency of CMHT contact, but not with the type of CMHT, type of medication, or other treatments and benefits.ConclusionsWhile the frequency of meetings with CMHTs increased with the severity of antisocial behaviours, no specific treatments were provided to patients with SMI engaging in antisocial behaviours.

scholarly journals Policing, Crime and Mental Illness in England and Wales: Insights from the Literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Frank Kitt ◽  
Colin Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Public Agencies ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Police Service ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Made In

Mental illness pervades most societies, but it is only recently that its impact and effects upon individuals has slowly been recognised in England and Wales. When people suffering from this illness become involved with various public agencies, the way they are dealt with appears inconsistent and on occasions ends in tragedy. One agency that is constantly in contact with people who suffer mental health illness is the police service. Some high profile cases have clearly illustrated misunderstandings and the fact that the police are not generally equipped to deal with such individuals. This article considers a brief history and theoretical backcloth to police understanding and framing of mental illness in England and Wales, and explores the National Liaison and Diversion Model as an alternative to traditional police understanding and response. The article suggests that only by understanding the historical context, and literature, surrounding mental illness, can improvements be made in the criminal justice system as a whole and within the police service in particular.

scholarly journals The Emergence of Recovery: A Genealogical Exploration of the Forces of Power Shaping New Zealand's Mental Health Services in the 21st Century

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Darren Mills
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Mental Health Service Delivery ◽  
Methods And Techniques ◽  
Psychiatric Discourse

<p>Recovery is a conceptual model that underpins New Zealand’s mental health service delivery in the 21st century. This thesis explores how recovery emerged historically as an influential philosophy and how representations of recovery have changed to meet the needs of different groups. An inquiry, based on Foucault’s genealogical method, investigates the historical and contemporary forces of power that have shaped the construction of mental illness, and the development of methods and techniques to support and manage persons labelled as mentally ill. The normalisation of knowledge developed during 19th century psychiatric practice provided a context for later critique and resistance from movements that highlighted the oppressive power of psychiatric discourse. Key to the critique were the antipsychiatry and service user movements, which provided the conditions for the possibility of the emergence of recovery as a dominant discourse. Since its emergence, recovery has moved through a number of representations as it was taken up by different groups. A significant shift in the 21st century has been the dominance of neo-liberal discourse based on consumerism, a rolling back of the state, and an emphasis on individual responsibility. The implications of this shift for users and providers of services and their effects on current representations of recovery conclude the inquiry.</p>

scholarly journals Describing the recovery experiences of not criminally responsible clients living in the community

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Boldt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
Recovery Experiences ◽  
Not Criminally Responsible ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive

This study describes the recovery experiences of persons who have been found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder (NCRMD). A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to elicit the recovery experiences of five participants. The overarching theme that arose from the data was ‘Experiencing and understanding recovery in the forensic mental health system (FMHS) as a dynamic process of change,’ and the major themes that emerged out of the overarching theme are: ‘Recovering in the FMHS,’ ‘the Critical Role of Medication,’ ‘the Significance of Relationships,’ ‘the Importance of Helping Yourself,’ and ‘Navigating Challenges.’ The results of this inquiry reveal that the participants’ experiences of recovery are greatly influenced by their involvement in the FMHS. This study offers a preliminary understanding of how recovery is experienced by NCRMD clients who reside in the community and suggests implications for clinical practice and education, as well as future research and theory.

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