Criminal Minds and Mental Illness

Reflection
Based upon how mental illness is treated in the
criminal justice system
12/24/2019
University
Student Credentials

Criminal Minds and Mental Illness 1
Reflection
As far as my knowledge relating to the subject of mental illness goes in relation with a
criminal activity, throughout the years I’ve studied this aspect in some or the other way that
crimes take place due to criminal minds of individuals. This lecture provided a new outlook
that was required so as to expanse the knowledge I had and made me look into certain
questions and aspects related to the same. Lecture that was given in the classroom the other
day made me question various scenarios regarding the prospects of studying the
psychological issues an individual mind goes through that influences that individual to
commit a crime.
There are widespread statistics that show that people who face major psychotic harm to their
brains tend to get defensive very fast and try to protect themselves hence, resulting in the
damage to another or in legal terms, a criminal act being committed on the other. Though all
these acts are caused during an unconscious state or without proper awareness, but sometimes
it might lead to a specific harm. When the data of many of these researches was compiled, it
leads to just one conclusion, that issues with behavioural and mood regulation ultimately
directs to an impulsive and aggressive behaviour1. As per the study conducted in the United
Kingdom, it was found that patients suffering from mental illness such as acute psychosis
were prone to activities as such where their anger led to a criminal activity. In these cases, the
criminal or the alleged person was incapable of controlling their actions while angry despite
knowing the fact that it might lead to a serious harm to the other. In scenarios where these
individuals deem to believe that people are going to harm them they tend to take action in the
most irrational or violent way which ultimately leads to a violent activity2.
1 Jeffrey W. Swanson and others, 'Mental Illness And Reduction Of Gun Violence And
Suicide: Bringing Epidemiologic Research To Policy' (2015) 25 Annals of Epidemiology.
2 Justice, 'People With Mental Illness And Learning Disabilities Let Down By Criminal
Justice System - JUSTICE' (JUSTICE, 2019) <https://justice.org.uk/people-mental-illness-
learning-disabilities-let-criminal-justice-system/> accessed 24 December 2019.