CRIMINALITY AND MENTAL ILLNESS - A STUDY OF ARREST RATES IN A RURAL STATE

• NCJ Number: 40635
• Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 134 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 80-83
• Author(s): J R DURBIN; R A PASEWARK; D ALBERS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychiatric Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

STUDY OF CUMULATIVE ARRESTS FOR THE PERIOD 1964-1973 FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS ADMITTED TO A STATE HOSPITAL IN 1969 (286 MEN AND 175 WOMEN) AND FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION IN WYOMING.

Abstract

MALE PATIENTS WERE ARRESTED AS OFTEN OR MORE OFTEN THAN INDIVIDUALS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. NO MEN DIAGNOSED AS SCHIZOPHRENIC WERE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS; ONE-FOURTH OF ARRESTS AMONG INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED AS ALCOHOLICS WERE FOR SUCH CRIMES. ARREST RATES AMONG WOMEN PATIENTS SEEMED TO PARALLEL THOSE OF WOMEN IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT PERSONS HOSPITALIZED FOR MENTAL DISORDERS ARE NOT LESS FREQUENTLY ARRESTED FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW THAN ARE PERSONS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION, WHICH CONTRASTS WITH FINDINGS IN PREVIOUS STUDIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)