NCJ Number
137601
Journal
Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 61 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 22-26
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement personnel are increasingly coming into contact with mentally ill offenders and should adopt several new strategies to ensure the effective and fair treatment of these offenders while safeguarding the rights and interests of the community.
Abstract
The deinstitutionalization of mentally ill persons, cuts in public assistance, rising unemployment, and a decline in low- income housing are some of the factors that have made mentally ill persons the fastest growing segment of the national jail population. The crimes committed by mentally ill persons are usually misdemeanors, especially trespassing while rummaging for food, loitering in stores for warmth, indecent exposure because of a lack of bathrooms, and thefts of services or food. In addition, police interaction with mentally ill persons often occurs during responses to domestic disputes. However, mentally ill persons often do not appreciate their own diminished capacity and may taunt police officers in public. Unfortunately, few police agencies prepare officers to manage mentally ill offenders. Needed improvements include regular communication between law enforcement and mental health agencies to develop comprehensive and cooperative approaches, reciprocal training arrangements, and increased opportunities for mental health treatment during incarceration. Discussion of Illinois programs and 14 reference notes