Effects of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Abuse on Criminal Offenses



Effects of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Abuse on Criminal Offenses

Introduction

The paper represents an article analysis of the chosen article Effects of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Abuse on Criminal Offenses. The article tries to study the relationship between mental illness and criminal activity. Substance abuse and mental illness leads to repeated criminal offense. It is suggested that mental illness has been legalized. This is to say that people who are mentally ill or who have been taking drugs on a regular basis have much more probability of getting arrested than the normal criminals who are not faced with such problems (Junginger & Claypoolem, 2006). The jail is full of such people. It is assumed that people who have more visible mental health problems are also people who are suspected for criminal activity. Secondly, it is these symptoms that lead a person to commit crimes and indulge in activities that are essentially illegal and immoral.

Discussion

The research has been conducted by Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii Professor Junginger. The focus of the project has largely remained on the nature of criminalization of mental illness. There is a direct relation between the mental health issues and the unlikely behavior of a person. This behavior is not only unliked but it is also inappropriate in that it borders on crime. The study used a 5 point scale to assess the rater read participants. This rater scale was used to measure the relationship between serious mental illness and criminal activity as well as the relationship between criminal activity and substance abuse. There are two types of relationships in this regard. Either the criminal offense can be a direct result of the mental illness and substance use, or the criminal offense can ...