Does crime lead to mental health problems or can mental health problems lead to crime.

Assignment Brief

Criminal Justice and Mental Disorder

You are required to write one essay selected from the titles below. The assignment should be 2000 words in length. You should submit your assignment on the submission date indicated on Blackboard and as per the submission guidelines given.

Critically discuss ONE of the following statements:

1. Crime can lead to mental health problems or mental health problems can lead to crime.
2. Certain disorders such as schizophrenia, personality disorders and ADHD can impact people’s views of the world causing an individual to commit crimes.
3. You are more likely to commit a crime or be a victim of crime if you have a mental health issue. Discuss in relation to age or gender.
4. Poor management of mental health can lead to a person being more likely to engage in criminality.
5. Having a mental disorder can make a person’s ability to distinguish between right and wrong more difficult (for example sexual offences).

Sample Answer

Poor Management of Mental Health and Its Link to Criminal Behaviour

Introduction

Mental health is a key aspect of a person’s overall well-being. When mental health is poorly managed, it can cause significant challenges not only to the individual but also to society. One of the debated consequences of untreated or poorly treated mental health issues is a potential increase in criminal behaviour. This essay will critically discuss the link between poor mental health management and criminality, exploring various theories, research findings, and case studies. It will focus on how mental health disorders—particularly when unmanaged—can contribute to criminal actions, while also considering other factors like substance abuse, lack of access to treatment, and social stigma.

Understanding Mental Health and Crime

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. When someone’s mental health is compromised and not properly managed, it may result in behaviour that breaks the law.

It is important to clarify that most people with mental health issues are not violent or criminal. However, under certain circumstances, mental disorders can increase the likelihood of criminal behaviour. Poor management may mean the person is undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, untreated, or unsupported. These individuals may struggle with controlling impulses, understanding consequences, or distinguishing between right and wrong.

Theoretical Perspectives

Several theories help explain the connection between mental health and crime.

1. The Psychodynamic Theory (Freud, 1923) suggests unresolved internal conflicts, often rooted in childhood, can lead to criminal acts. When mental illness is not managed, these conflicts may remain or worsen.

2. Cognitive Theory proposes that people commit crimes due to distorted thinking. Mental disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may impair one’s ability to think logically or perceive reality correctly, increasing the chances of engaging in criminal acts when untreated.

3. Strain Theory argues that social pressures such as poverty or unemployment can lead to crime. If someone with mental health problems is also socially disadvantaged and unsupported, the risk may be even higher.

Mental Illness and Crime: Statistical Evidence

Research shows a strong link between mental disorders and criminality, especially when the disorders are not treated. According to the UK Ministry of Justice (2021), around 45% of prisoners in England and Wales have a diagnosed mental health issue, with depression, anxiety, and personality disorders being the most common.

A study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS, 2020) found that individuals with severe mental illness were 3 to 4 times more likely to be arrested than those without. The same study highlighted that untreated mental illness, especially when combined with substance misuse, significantly raised the risk of violent or antisocial behaviour.

Specific Mental Disorders and Criminal Behaviour

1. Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder where people interpret reality abnormally. Symptoms like hallucinations or delusions can lead to irrational behaviour. Although the majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent, if left untreated, their risk of offending increases. In some cases, individuals have committed serious crimes under the influence of delusions. For example, in the UK, the case of Nicola Edgington (2012) highlighted how a woman with paranoid schizophrenia who had been released from hospital without proper follow-up killed a stranger in a random attack.

2. Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) are commonly found among people in the criminal justice system. A person with ASPD may lack empathy or remorse, making them more likely to commit crimes. If not managed through therapy or medication, these individuals may act out violently or break the law repeatedly.

3. ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), especially in adults, can result in impulsive and aggressive behaviour. Studies show that adults with untreated ADHD are over-represented in prison populations. The impulsivity and poor planning associated with ADHD may increase the risk of criminal actions if not properly treated.

The Role of Substance Abuse

Poorly managed mental health is often linked to substance abuse, which further increases the risk of criminal behaviour. Drugs and alcohol can worsen symptoms of mental illness and reduce inhibition. A person with depression may turn to alcohol, which could lead to aggressive or reckless behaviour. Research by Fazel et al. (2006) found that substance abuse, especially when combined with mental illness, is one of the strongest predictors of violence.

Barriers to Effective Mental Health Management

Several factors contribute to poor mental health management and, therefore, increased risk of criminality:

• Lack of Access to Services: Many people cannot afford therapy or medication, or they live in areas without good mental health services.

• Stigma: People may avoid seeking help because of the shame associated with mental illness.

• Misdiagnosis or Late Diagnosis: Many individuals enter adulthood without ever being diagnosed.

• Over-reliance on the Criminal Justice System: Often, the police and courts are left to deal with mentally ill individuals who should be receiving medical care instead.