Mental illness as a factor in criminality: A study of prisoners and mental patients

Abstract

Data were collected on two samples of patients admitted to New York State Psychiatrie centres and two samples of inmates admitted to New York State prisons to assess the relationship between mental disorder and arrest. Differences in criminality were looked for among four groups: prisoners with no state mental hospitalisations before admission; prisoners with previous mental hospi~ talisations, patients with previous arrests, and patients with no previous arrests. Both types of patients were at lower risk of arrest than prisoners and there was a fairly consistent ordering in the rates and probabilities of subsequent criminality (prisoners with no previous hospitalisation history > prisoners with previous mental hosPitalisa~ tions > patients with previous arrests > patients with no prior arrests). The ordering of arrest data could be due to pre~existing differences among the groups, the nature of the treatment received, or same combination of the two.

Triple Stigma: Persons with Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Problems in the Criminal Justice System

“…However, like the general population of inmates released without gradual reintegration support, offenders with mental illness are likely to be arrested again (Gendreau, Goggin, & Cullen, 1999;Harris & Koepsell, 1996;Torrey, Wolfe, & Flynn, 1992;Vose, 1990). Prior arrest is a strong predictor for future arrest and reincarceration among persons with mental illness (Cirincione, Steadman, Robbins, & Monahan, 1994).…”

Does psychiatric disorder predict violent crime among released jail detainees? A six-year longitudinal study.

“…With few exceptions (Cirincione, Steadman, Robbins, and Monahan, in press), most have been retrospective, collecting only current charge or criminal history data. This literature yields equivocal findings: Some studies have found a relationship between mental disorder and violence (Ashford, 1989; Langevin, Ben-Aron, Wortzman, Dickey, & Handy 1987; Packard & Rosner, 1985; Roman & Gerbring, 1989; Rosner, Wiederlight, & Wieczorek, 1985; Taylor & Gunn, 1984), whereas others have not (Cirincione et al, in press; Hodgins & Cote, 1993; Phillips, Wolf, & Coons, 1988). Still others have found that it depends on the disorder (Collins & Bailey, 1990).…”