ATTITUDES AND FEELINGS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL TOWARD THE MENTALLY ILL

• NCJ Number: 31714
• Author(s): M SILVERMAN; C E NELSON; J ACCARDI
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-DF-04-0032
• Sponsoring Agency: Federal Judicial Ctr; US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: University of South Florida
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY COMPARED THE ATTITUDES AND FEELINGS OF 180 FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, PAROLE, AND PROBATION PERSONNEL AND 125 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA STUDENTS TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS.

Abstract

MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE CRIMINALLY INSANE ATTITUDE SCALE AND THE OPINIONS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS SCALE WERE USED TO ASSESS THESE ATTITUDES. STUDY RESULTS SHOWED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL TENDED TO BELIEVE MANY OF THE STEREOTYPIC CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS WHILE THE COLLEGE STUDENTS BASED THEIR VIEW ON MORE CURRENT THINKING. IN ADDITION, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL INDICATED GREATER FEAR OF THE CRIMINALLY INSANE THAN THE OTHER TWO GROUPS. POSSIBLE CAUSES AND RAMIFICATIONS OF THESE DIFFERENCES ARE DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)