Discussion 4 : Week 9-10

Question 5: Discuss the main points in the debate about mental illness being
related to higher rates of offending.

There has been a longstanding and vigorous debate over the relationship of mental
disorder to violent and other criminal behaviours dating back over a century
(Lombroso 1911, Maudsley 1876, Monahan 1981).
In the 1960’s and 70’s a broad consensus emerged among mental health professionals,
criminologists and other researchers that any apparent correlations between mental
disorder and offending were the result of the confounding influences of the social
dislocations which so often accompany disorder and disability. (Monahan &
Steadman 1983, Mullen 1984). This consensus was maintained in part by research
evidence but also in part by ideological commitments.

The enthusiasm for the rediscovered ‘dangerousness’ of the mentally disordered was
not shared by all researchers and all disciplines. Sharp divisions on the issue became
increasingly apparent. Again the debate was only partly grounded in research data and
in part reflected ideological commitments.

Hafner & Böker (1982) in their massive and painstaking study of offending and
mental disorder in Western Germany clearly documented significant correlations
between having schizophrenia and violent offences then, famously, concluded “if we
define the dangerousness of the mentally abnormal as the relative probability of their
committing a violent crime, then our findings show that this does not exceed the
dangerousness of the legally responsible adult population as a whole”.

Managing the Risks of Future Offending among the Mentally Disordered in the
Mental Health Services: In the community the organisation of community based
services for mentally disordered offenders has often been discussed in terms of
whether general mental health services should fulfil this function or whether a
separate and parallel service is required to manage those who are both mentally
disordered and have a history of offending which is both significant and may recur
(Gunn 1977, Gallwey 1990, Whittle & Scally 1998, Heilbran & Griffin 1998)
If we look at the above statements I think personally that the main points of mental
illness being related to higher rates of re-offending is :
• The established association between certain mental disorders (notably
schizophrenia and severe affective disorders) and increased rates of violent and
criminal behaviours.
• The intellectually disabled are more likely to be convicted of criminal offences.
• The combination of substance abuse with mental disorder greatly increases the
strength of the associations.
• Greater attention is needed to the mentally disordered and intellectually disabled
prisoners with improved services in prison and an increased availability of beds
outside of prison where care and treatment can be obtained in an appropriately
secure environment.

There are three questions I would like to ask: Are the mentally ill violent? Are the
mentally ill at increased risk of violence? Are the public at risk?
In my view mental disorders are neither necessary nor sufficient causes of violence.
Major determinants of violence continue to be socio-demographic and economic
factors. Substance abuse is a major determinant of violence and this is true whether it
occurs in the context of a concurrent mental illness or not.

It is interesting though to look at it from all aspects. In a CRC report as noted below it
is said that There is little research that can support my above personal views but that
there is a link.
Incontrovertible evidence now exists to show that the prevalence of mental disorder among
those in the criminal justice system (prisoners, offenders on community orders and accused
on remand) is significantly greater than is found in the general population.

Trends & issues

in crime and criminal justice
No. 365 August 2008 .

It is well-documented that crime rates and the prevalence of mental illness are both higher in areas with pronounced
levels of social disorganisation.
There is however little research on whether social disorganisation and other community factors have a differential
impact on offending by persons with schizophrenia compared with those without a mental illness. Silver (2000)
It is stated: Unfortunately, research shows that a relatively poor job is done adequately
identifying the needs of mentally disordered offenders prior to the time they enter the criminal
justice system (indeed, it has been said, perhaps facetiously, that any need for a forensic
psychiatric system arises from a failure of the mainstream mental health system). (Professor
J,R,P Ogloff,; 2006)

It is stated that it is not possible to conduct a comprehensive mental health assessment with
every person who comes into contact with the police, the courts, or the correctional system.
Thus, screening is vital to identify those that do require a comprehensive evaluation. The aims
of screening are to identify mentally disordered offenders and provide necessary treatment,
prevent violent and disruptive incidents in institutions, allocate resources to those with the
greatest or most immediate need, and reduce the cycle of admissions to the criminal justice
system. (Professor J,R,P Ogloff,; 2006)

For me the points that have to be looked at seriously in this debate is substance abuse,
higher arrest rates by police of the mentally ill client and lastly the difficulty of
treating mentally ill clients in facilities that can benefit them.

REFERENCES:

The identification of mental disorders in the criminal justice

system : report to the Criminology Research Council
James RP Ogloff, Michael Davis, George Rivers and Stuart Ross
Melbourne: Monash University, 2006.

Violence and mental illness: an overview

HEATHER STUART1
1
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Abramsky Hall, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario,
K7L 3N6, Canada

Mullen PE. Serious Mental Disorder and Offending Behaviours. In: McGuire J. (Ed)
Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment, in press