Title
Beyond criminalization: toward a criminologically informed framework for mental health policy and services research
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry
Publication Date
2006-06-23
Document Type
Article
Subjects
*Criminal Law; *Health Services Research; Humans; *Mental Health; *Policy Making; Risk Assessment; United States
Disciplines
Health Services Research | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
The problems posed by persons with mental illness involved with the criminal justice system are vexing ones that have received attention at the local, state and national levels. The conceptual model currently guiding research and social action around these problems is shaped by the "criminalization" perspective and the associated belief that reconnecting individuals with mental health services will by itself reduce risk for arrest. This paper argues that such efforts are necessary but possibly not sufficient to achieve that reduction. Arguing for the need to develop a services research framework that identifies a broader range of risk factors for arrest, we describe three potentially useful criminological frameworks-the "life course," "local life circumstances" and "routine activities" perspectives. Their utility as platforms for research in a population of persons with mental illness is discussed and suggestions are provided with regard to how services research guided by these perspectives might inform the development of community-based services aimed at reducing risk of arrest.
DOI of Published Version
10.1007/s10488-006-0072-0
Source
Adm Policy Ment Health. 2006 Sep;33(5):544-57. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Administration and policy in mental health
Related Resources
PubMed ID
16791518
Repository Citation
Fisher WH, Silver E, Wolff N. (2006). Beyond criminalization: toward a criminologically informed framework for mental health policy and services research. Implementation Science and Practice Advances Research Center Publications. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0072-0. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/psych_cmhsr/276
Comments
Nominated for ‘Best Paper” 2008, Mental Health Section, American Sociological Association.