Research finds mentally ill
persons have higher rates of police contacts, arrests, and criminal charges for
minor offenses and noncriminal behavior. It remains unclear whether the
decision-making process and factors affecting discretion reflect a procedural
bias that criminalizes the mentally ill.
Using observational data from a
Canadian police service, the findings suggest higher odds for criminal charges
with serious offenses, males, older citizens, a prior criminal record, being
under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and being uncooperative with requests
for information and compliance. The odds of a citation are higher for proactive
calls, more serious offenses, older citizens, mentally ill persons, those under
the influence, or with a disrespectful demeanor.
The overall findings suggest
an indirect procedural bias exists due to situational constraints, a
disjuncture between policy and police culture, and limited mental health
resources that lead to response strategies that contribute to criminalization
of the mentally ill.
Purchase full article at: http://goo.gl/FxjUY6
Jennifer
L. Schulenberg, Department of Sociology and Legal Studies, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada; e-mail: jlschule@uwaterloo.ca.
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