Psychology Discussion/Assignment

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Week3discussion.pdf

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MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

The closure of many psychiatric hospitals and the release of thousands of patients, beginning with deinstitutionalization in the 1950s and 1960s, triggered a mental health crisis in U.S. society. Continuing to the present, treatment options for individuals with mental illness are often inaccessible or inadequate due to financial status, stigma, and the complex healthcare system. Some sufferers then turn to alcohol and drugs to self- medicate, which further exacerbates their condition. This combination of mental illness and substance abuse creates a “perfect storm” of often erratic, impulsive, and aggressive actions that increase the likelihood for criminal behavior. Law enforcement officers are the first responders to calls involving crimes committed by people suffering from mental illness. As a result, officers must be prepared to de-escalate potentially volatile situations and find novel alternatives to arrest and incarceration.

For this Discussion, you consider how specific mental illnesses may contribute to criminal behavior and identify viable alternatives to arrest and incarceration.

To prepare:

Select a mental illness to discuss that could contribute to criminal behavior.

Post a response that addresses the following:

How could the mental disorder you selected contribute to criminal behavior? Use specific examples to illustrate your response.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

BY DAY 3

10/19/26, 1:21 AM Topic: Week 3: Discussion

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/discussion_topics/3907230?module_item_id=10868026 1/2

Under what circumstances should offenders with mental illness be arrested? If arrest is not a viable option, what alternatives could law enforcement officers use to prevent future criminal behavior?

Respond to at least two colleagues:

Choose a response that is different from your own. Explain how your colleague’s position has changed your perception or understanding.

BY DAY 5

10/19/26, 1:21 AM Topic: Week 3: Discussion

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/discussion_topics/3907230?module_item_id=10868026 2/2

Week3_AtaGlance_TheCriminalMind-Fall2026.pdf

WEEK 3: AT A GLANCE PERSONALITY, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE—

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

INTRODUCTION Studies suggest that the prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse is higher among inmates than the general population (Fazel, Yoon, & Hayes, 2017; Prins, 2014). Such studies raise questions about the degree to which mental illness and substance abuse contribute to criminal behavior and, if so, whether jail time and prison sentences are the appropriate responses.

This week, you examine psychological theories of criminal behavior, which explain how mental illness (e.g., mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders) and substance abuse can contribute to criminal behavior.

References:

Fazel, S., Yoon, I. A., & Hayes, A. J. (2017). Substance use disorders in prisoners: An updated systematic review and meta‐regression analysis in recently incarcerated men and women. Addiction, 112(10), 1725–1739. doi:10.1111/add.13877

Prins, S. J. (2014). Prevalence of mental illnesses in U.S. state prisons: A systematic review. Psychiatric Services, 65(7), 862–872. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201300166

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Students will:

Explain how mental illness can contribute to criminal behavior Evaluate the use of different law enforcement responses to offenders with mental illness Apply psychological concepts and theories to criminal behavior

DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT QUIZ RESOURCES WEEK IN REVIEW

10/19/26, 1:21 AM Week 3: At a Glance: The Criminal Mind-Fall 2026

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/pages/week-3-at-a-glance?module_item_id=10868023 1/2

Analyze the interaction among and the cumulative effects of social, behavioral, cognitive, and psychological factors on criminal behavior

10/19/26, 1:21 AM Week 3: At a Glance: The Criminal Mind-Fall 2026

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/pages/week-3-at-a-glance?module_item_id=10868023 2/2

Week3_LearningResources_TheCriminalMind-Fall2026.pdf

LEARNING RESOURCES

Note: To access this week’s library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2020). Criminal behavior: A psychological approach (12th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 7, “Psychopathy” (pp. 209-211) Chapter 8, “Crime and Mental Disorders” (pp. 250–258)

Chatterjee, R. (2018, July 6). With more opioid use, people are more likely to get caught up in the justice system . Shots: Health News From NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/07/06/626176621/with-more-opioid-use- people-are-more-likely-to-get-caught-up-in-the-justice-syst

Herman, C. (2018, September 19). County jails struggle to treat mentally ill inmates . Shots: Health News From NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/health- shots/2018/09/19/647270042/county-jails-struggle-to-treat-mentally-ill-inmates

Iglehart, J. K. (2016). Decriminalizing mental illness—the Miami model . New England Journal of Medicine, 374(18), 1701–1703.

Montross, C. (2016). Hard time or hospital treatment? Mental illness and the criminal justice system . New England Journal of Medicine, 375(15), 1407–1409.

Morabito, M. S., Savage, J., Sneider, L., & Wallace, K. (2018). Police response to people with mental illnesses in a major U.S. city: The Boston experience with the co-responder model . Victims and Offenders, 13(8), 1093–1105.

Robitz, R. (2018). What are personality disorders? Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/personality-disorders/what-are-personality- disorders

Required Readings

Required Media

10/19/26, 1:23 AM Week 3: Learning Resources : The Criminal Mind-Fall 2026

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/pages/week-3-learning-resources?module_item_id=10868035 1/1

Week3_Assignment16.pdf

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PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

In this week’s Discussion, you examined how mental illness can contribute to criminal behavior. For the Assignment, you now examine this topic in more depth as it relates to the Keen family, while also considering the role of substance abuse in criminal behavior.

As you complete this Assignment, keep in mind that mental disorder is an umbrella term that encompasses psychopathy and other personality disorders, as well as the major disorders discussed in the readings (such as bipolar disorder and depression). Given the persistent stigma of seeking treatment and the lack of affordable treatment options available, many offenders may struggle with mental illness but may not have been formally diagnosed. Therefore, criminal justice professionals must be able to recognize some of the telltale symptoms of specific disorders. The Keen family serves as your practice.

Submit a 750- to 1,000-word paper in which you address the following:

How do the following psychological factors account for the criminal behavior in the case study? Mental disorders

Psychopathy and other personality disorders Major mental disorders characterized by mood disturbances and periods of psychosis

Substance abuse How do the social, behavioral, and cognitive factors you identified over the past 2 weeks interact with the psychological factors listed above to create a cumulative effect on the criminal behavior in the case study?

Support your response with specific examples from the case study, theories from the Learning Resources, and relevant professional experience.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

BY DAY 7

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

10/19/26, 1:22 AM Week 3: Assignment

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/assignments/3611950#submit 1/5

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10/19/26, 1:22 AM Week 3: Assignment

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/assignments/3611950#submit 2/5

CRJS_4102_Week3_Assignment_Rubric

10/19/26, 1:22 AM Week 3: Assignment

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/assignments/3611950#submit 3/5

Criteria Ratings Pts

Explain how mental disorders account for the criminal behavior in the case study.

25 pts

Explain how substance abuse accounts for the criminal behavior in the case study.

25 pts

Explain how social, behavioral, and cognitive factors interact with psychological factors to create a cumulative effect on the criminal behavior in the case study.

25 pts

Format and writing

15 pts

25 to >21.0 pts Exemplary (Exceeds expectations) This component is fully addressed and logically presented.

21 to >17.0 pts Proficient (Meets expectations) This component is addressed. Further development would strengthen this component.

17 to >0 pts Developing (Does not fully meet expectations) This component is not present or not clearly addressed.

25 to >21.0 pts Exemplary (Exceeds expectations) This component is fully addressed and logically presented.

21 to >17.0 pts Proficient (Meets expectations) This component is addressed. Further development would strengthen this component.

17 to >0 pts Developing (Does not fully meet expectations) This component is not present or not clearly addressed.

25 to >21.0 pts Exemplary (Exceeds expectations) This component is fully addressed and logically presented.

21 to >17.0 pts Proficient (Meets expectations) This component is addressed. Further development would strengthen this component.

17 to >0 pts Developing (Does not fully meet expectations) This component is not present or not clearly addressed.

15 to >13.0 pts Exemplary (Exceeds expectations) Any spelling, grammar, and/or punctuation

13 to >11.0 pts Proficient (Meets expectations) Submission contains few spelling, grammar, and/or

11 to >0 pts Developing (Does not fully meet expectations) Submission contains multiple spelling, grammar,

10/19/26, 1:22 AM Week 3: Assignment

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/assignments/3611950#submit 4/5

Criteria Ratings Pts

Timeliness

10 pts

Total Points: 100

deviations from Standard Academic English are minor and do not affect clear communication. Communication demonstrates discipline- specific conventions, such as stylistic choices appropriate to an academic audience. Work includes multiple explicit mentions of concepts or ideas from the required sources correctly cited and formatted if specified by the assignment/discussion. A reference page is included and properly formatted.

punctuation deviations from Standard Academic English, OR these deviations do not affect clear communication. Work includes one or more explicit mentions of a concept or idea from the required sources if specified by the assignment/discussion’s directions and an attempt at citing the source has been made. A reference page is included.

and/or punctuation deviations from Standard Academic English, affecting clear communication. Work does not include any explicit mention of concepts or ideas from the required sources, OR it contains one or more explicit mention of a concept or idea from the required sources, if specified by the assignment/discussion’s directions, but without any attempt at citing the source. A reference page is not included.

10 to >8.0 pts Exemplary (Exceeds expectations) The assignment is submitted according to posted due dates and times or late with prior consent from the instructor.

8 to >6.0 pts Proficient (Meets expectations) The assignment is submitted within the allowed time.

6 to >0 pts Developing (Does not fully meet expectations) The assignment is not submitted on time.

10/19/26, 1:22 AM Week 3: Assignment

https://waldenu.instructure.com/courses/249276/assignments/3611950#submit 5/5