When two worlds collide: A twenty‐first century approach to mental health and policing

Mental health, vulnerability and risk in police custody

“…The identification of mental health concerns is crucial to ensure that, where appropriate, the person is diverted to mental health services or a mental health assessment is requested to ensure the safety of the person while in custody, and on release (Senior et al, 2014;Ogloff et al, 2013). Recognising mental illness can be difficult and a lack of training can lead to a degree of under-reporting when dealing with people in a highly-charged custody environment (Cummins, 2012).…”

People in Crisis: Understanding the Impact of a Mental Health Response Unit on Police Culture

“…An integral element of policing-in both enforcement based and community based response models-is responding to PIC. Many academic studies have identified that frontline police officers acknowledge that responding to PIC is a significant part of their job (Borum et al, 1998;Hartford et al, 2006;Cooper et al, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson et al, 2011;LaGrange, 2003;Sellers et al, 2005;Senior et al, 2014). Borum and colleagues (1998) characterise this increased attention to responding to PIC as the 'quiet revolution' in policing.…”

“…In addition, Cotton (2004) describes frontline police officers as "de facto mental health providers" as they are on the frontlines responding to those in crisis (135). Their status as de facto mental health providers is exacerbated by the lack of services and programming available in the community (Cooper et al, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson et al, 2011;Hartford et al, 2006;Senior et al, 2014). This issue is continually compounded by government spending reductions in programs and services and has led to significant increases in arrest rates for PIC (Cooper et al, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson et al, 2011;Hartford et al, 2006;Senior et al, 2014).…”

“…Their status as de facto mental health providers is exacerbated by the lack of services and programming available in the community (Cooper et al, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson et al, 2011;Hartford et al, 2006;Senior et al, 2014). This issue is continually compounded by government spending reductions in programs and services and has led to significant increases in arrest rates for PIC (Cooper et al, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson et al, 2011;Hartford et al, 2006;Senior et al, 2014). Scholars refer to this issue as the criminalization of the mentally ill, as individuals suffering from mental illness make up a large percentage of those in the correctional system (Abramson, 1972;Cooper et al, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson et al, 2011;Hartford et al, 2006;Senior et al, 2014).…”

“…It is reasonable to suspect that prior to the development and implementation of MHUs, the public perceived police responses to PIC as illegitimate. This may be a result of the lack of training police officers receive regarding mental illness (Bittner, 1967;Borum, Deane, Steadman, & Morrissey, 1998;Hartford, Carey, & Mendonca, 2006;Cooper, McLearen, & Zapf, 2004;Cotton, 2004;Godfredson, Thomas, Ogloff, & Luebbers, 2011;Hails & Borum, 2003;LaGrange, 2003;Senior, Noga, & Shaw, 2014;Sellers, Sullivan, Veysey, & Shane, 2005), or the negative interactions police have had with PIC in the past. The police often assume PIC are more prone to violence and believe they may need to respond more aggressively, which explains the academic literatures' consensus regarding the notion that those suffering from mental illness are disproportionately victims of violence at the hands of the police (Coleman & Cotton, 2014;Watson, Corrigan, & Ottati, 2004).…”