Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior

by Shannon Fiack (Editor)

Overview

One of the essays in this book offers a very logical 'starting off point' to the connection between mental illness and criminal behavior. It says that they cannot be compared as there are far too many varying definitions of either. Another essay asserts that criminals know right from wrong, regardless of mental illness. Another essay discusses the differences and efficacy in psychiatric hospitals and prisons. The ten essays in this volume will have your readers enraptured, as they explore well researched sources presenting them with both sides to the topics of mental illness and crime.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737744354
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	06/20/2009
Series:	At Issue Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	104
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

B01

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Increase the Risk of Violence Richard A. Friedman 10

2 Mental Illness and Crime Cannot Be Compared Due to Varying Definitions Herschel Prins 17

3 Criminals Know Right from Wrong, Regardless of Mental Illness Stanton E. Samenow 25

4 Violent People Should Be Treated as Criminals Rather Than as Patients Peter Breggin 34

5 The Mentally Ill Are Kept in Prisons Due to Inadequate Health Services William Kanapaux 40

6 Psychiatric Hospitals Are Not Equivalent to Prisons Joanmarie Ilaria Davoli 48

7 The Mentally Ill Are Mishandled by the Justice System American Civil Liberties Union 57

8 The Plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity Should Remain Valid Mental Health America 67

9 Insanity Should Be a Medical, Not a Legal, Determination Dirk Olin 76

10 Television Dramas Lead to Discussion of Mental Health and Crime Rachel Gans-Boriskin Claire Wardle 81

Organizations to Contact 90

Bibliography 94

Index 97

Editorial Reviews

Review: Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior "...this text keeps arguments even-tempered, information straightforward, and details unsensationalized."—Booklist

From the Publisher