The criminalization of mental illness : crisis and opportunity for the justice system / Risdon N. Slate, Kelly Frailing, W. Wesley Johnson, Jacqueline K. Buffington.
The history of criminalization of persons with mental illnesses -- Challenges and needs of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system -- Civil commitment -- The law enforcement response to persons with mental illnesses in crises -- Jail processing of persons with mental illnesses -- Competency & criminal responsibility of criminal defendants -- Mental health courts -- Mental illness in the prison population : secure and treat? -- Diversion and reentry : strategies for discharging offenders living with mental illness -- Conclusion: Striving for informed policies.
Summary:
"For a myriad of reasons the criminal justice system has become the de facto mental health system in the United States. The third edition of The Criminalization of Mental Illness thoroughly explains these reasons, and describes in detail specialized law enforcement responses to people with mental illness (PWMI), mental health courts, jails and prison conditions, and discharge planning for this group. The third edition also includes examples of crises involving PWMI that end up driving policy, examines how therapeutic jurisprudence can be utilized to improve responses to PWMI and to ameliorate the inhumane and costly recycling of PWMI through the criminal justice system, and provides insight from criminal justice practitioners, in their own words, about the challenges both PWMI and practitioners face in the system and efforts to overcome them. This edition also examines the tension throughout the system when attempting to balance public safety and civil liberties. The concept of defunding the police and the impact of the Affordable Care Act on PWMI are considered as well"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.