Correlation Between Mental Illness and Violence and Crime Essay

Literature Analysis and Research Proposal of the Correlation between Mental Illness and Violence and Crime Over the past few decades, many researches have strived to test and explain the correlation between violence and crime and mental illness. Moore and Hiday (2006) assert that up 22% of inmates has a mental illness, sometimes containing more mental illness patients than many psychiatric units. Due to these statistics it is evident how important it is to understand the causes of the correlations between crime and violence and mental disorders. This proposal wishes to explain and understand the possible correlation and the reasons for such correlation between mental health illnesses and violence and crime. Further research to test these theories of crime and mental disorders will also be presented. Crime can be described combination between both behavior and mental factors. This will prove incredibly crucial in the definition of crime in relation to mental illness. Many of those that commit crimes are not convicted due to their illness so it is important to note, for the purpose of this analysis, that all illegal activity is considered crime, regardless of conviction (Monahan and Steadman 1983). It is evident that those with mental illnesses have an increased likelihood of committing crimes. It is important to note, however, that not all people with mental illnesses commit crimes or violent behavior so a cause is not evident. Substance abuse, a mental disorder, is also seen as a large risk in violent behavior (Silver 2006). Hiday (1995) asks the questions of the direction of this correlation. Does mental illness lead to violence or is it vice versa? THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS Silver (2006) asserts the importance of using t... ...s.† Law and Human Behavior 30(6):659-674. Powell, Thomas A., John C. Holt and Karen M. Fondacaro. 1997. â€Å"The Prevalence of Mental Illness among Inmates in a Rural State.† Law and Human Behavior 21(4):427-438. Robbins, Pamela Clark, John Monahan and Eric Silver. 2003. â€Å"Mental Disorder, Violence, and Gender.† Law and Human Behavior 27(6):561-571. Silver, Eric. 2006. â€Å"Understanding the Relationship between Mental Disorder and Violence: The Need for a Criminological Perspective.† Law and Human Behavior 30(6):685-706. Silver, Eric and Brent Teasdale. 2005. â€Å"Mental Disorder and Violence: An Examination of Stressful Life Events and Impaired Social Support.† Social Problems 52(1):62-78. Walsh, Zach and David S. Kosson. 2007. â€Å"Psychopathy and Violent Crime: A Prospective Study of the Influence of Socioeconomic Status and Ethnicity.† Law and Human Behavior 31(2):209-229.