NCJ Number
108066
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1987) Pages: 268-287
Date Published
1987
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The present study extends prior research on the criminality of mental patients by providing an indepth analysis of their movements through the criminal justice and mental health systems.
Abstract
The arrests and admissions of a random sample of patients were recorded during a 6-month period, and the circumstances surrounding each of the episodes were examined. Criminal and psychiatric histories were also obtained along with patients' self-reports of violence and victimization experiences. Although relatively few of the patients were arrested during the reference period, a number of those who were arrested had serious criminal records. Patient arrestees were more likely than nonarrestees to be hospitalized in the followup period and to have more previous psychiatric admissions overall. (Publisher abstract)