Paper

Running head: CRIMINAL JUSTICE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE 2

Psychiatric Illness and Criminality

Name

Institution

Psychiatric Illness and Criminality

Introduction

There has always a very hard task to judge whether to send those who commit crime as a result of having mental health problems or to take them for medication instead (Karlsson, & Zielinski, 2020). This has caused a lot of problems and at times judges do have a lot of things to consider when such cases are brought before them (Skinner & Farrington, 2020). This has caused a lot of concerns as there is always a divided opinion among the public. Some do argue that the crime was committed unknowingly while the offenders may also feel the pain and call for justice to be done (Karlsson, & Zielinski, 2020). This has brought a lot of conflicts and as a result, several case studies have been conducted to come up with a clear way whether these people belong to jail or treatment centers (Skinner & Farrington, 2020). This study supports those who commit crimes as a result of mental problems that should be taken for treatments and not jailed as discussed bellow (Zuffranieri et al, 2020).

I n the societies, persons with mental disorders are always treated as one who knows nothing and may not be charged culpable should the person be found to have taken anything in the society (Skinner & Farrington, 2020). They treat the offense committed as a mistake and may just lock the offender somewhere waiting for some brain medication (Karlsson, & Zielinski, 2020). This might always change from one community to another depending on the level of mental disorder the person suffers from, the customs of the community as well as the knowledge of the true disease the person is suffering from (Ellis, 2020). A seasonal disordered person who faces the challenge in a new village may find himself in jail should there be no proof of such from the hospital by known people may find himself jailed for a long time (Prost et al, 2020).

The treatment of mentally disordered criminal offenders has labeled everyone who commits a criminal offense to be suffering from mental health problems by a majority of people which might not be true (Skinner & Farrington, 2020). It is from this perspective that makes some people who may be genuinely suffering from mental health problems to land in jail while some people who are very upright in mind to get the favor (Ellis, 2020). This may be due to a lack of resources to defend him as well as awareness. Some may notify the court about the problem the client is facing but the court may need adequate evidence that may not be available by the time the offense is committed. The police do arrest these people more often even when they are found walking at odd hours due to fear of committing other serious crimes (Karlsson, & Zielinski, 2020).

Many hospitals have been constructed to deal with such illness which is a better move by the government however there is still a need for adequate staff and facilities which are very limited in number currently (Skinner & Farrington, 2020). The real issue in such hospitals is how to deal with these people in a manner that is considered to be respectful to their rights and freedoms as they get the treatment to become important people in the society (Mertens & Vander, 2020). Technologies have been invented and currently, a person who is seen as having some mental disorders can be verified through laboratory testing, and the result given whether is true or the trick was being used as escape got to commit a crime (Karlsson, & Zielinski, 2020).

The invention of technologies has come as a deprive of the criminal justice laws so that they can confirm the mental status of the patient before making their judgment so as not to base the ruling on the possibilities (Ellis, 2020). Today, a person claiming to have mental problems is taken for testing to confirm the allegations. A mentally ill person should be considered to have committed the crime unknowingly and should be taken for treatment, once done with the treatment; he should be set free under close monitor (Mertens & Vander, 2020).

Conclusion

It is true to say that setting someone free of sending one that could belong to jail to hospitals for treatment may be seen as a way of promoting criminals in society. This may be as a result of some criminals pretending to be mentally impaired after committing the offense and find their way back to the same society they stole from (Mertens & Vander, 2020). This has even branded anyone committing a crime to be insane which might not be true. To curb this menace, proper care and investigations should be taken to ensure that whoever committed a crime is properly investigated and proper measures are taken to ensure the society is safe even for tomorrow (Mertens & Vander, 2020). Crime offenders should not hang on mental disorders to escape the court charges but must be medically examined to get clear and true information needed (Ellis, 2020).

References

Skinner, G. C., & Farrington, D. P. (2020). A systematic review and meta-analysis of offending versus suicide in the community (non-psychiatric and non-prison) samples. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 101421.

Zuffranieri, M., De Cori, D., & Zanalda, E. (2020). The Paradox of the Waiting List to Enter REMS: A Delay in the Execution of Magistrates' Orders or a Search for a Better Way to Treat Mentally Disordered Offenders? Reflections Three Years after the Closure of Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals in Italy. Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders, 4, 63-73.

Prost, S. G., Archuleta, A. J., & Golder, S. (2020). Older adults incarcerated in the state prison: health and quality of life disparities between age cohorts. Aging & Mental Health, 1-9.

Ellis, A. (2020). Forensic psychiatry and mental health in Australia: an overview. CNS spectrums, 25(2), 119-121.

Mertens, A., & Vander Laenen, F. (2020). Pains of imprisonment beyond prison walls: qualitative research with females labeled as not criminally responsible. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 64(13-14), 1343-1363.

Karlsson, M. E., & Zielinski, M. J. (2020). Sexual victimization and mental illness prevalence rates among incarcerated women: A literature review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(2), 326-349.