Examining the Penrose Effect: Mental Health, Crime, and Offenders

This report delves into the Penrose Effect, which posits an inverse relationship between the availability of psychiatric beds and prison population sizes. It explores how the closure of mental health facilities can lead to increased crime rates and negatively impact mentally unstable offenders. The report emphasizes the importance of providing adequate mental health treatment to offenders to reduce crime and promote social well-being. It highlights that increasing psychiatric beds can lower prison populations and improve the mental health of individuals, ultimately contributing to a more balanced and just society. The study underscores the need for accessible mental health facilities and proper treatment for offenders to break the cycle of mental illness and crime.

Penrose Effect
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Introduction
Crime and mental health are having underlying relations which is considered as a key indicator
of social well-being as well. Crime and criminals represent the negative and weaker section of
society. Here, the term ‘weak’ does not mean physically weak; rather it denotes mental weakness
leading to lack of mental stabilization. It is considered that in most cases criminals or law
offenders are mentally not capable of fighting with their negative inner self and ends up
surrendering to the same. This results in barbaric actions from their end, thereby increasing the
number of crimes (Blüml et al, 2015). Hence, it can be observed that mental wellness is related
to criminal activities happening across the globe. This report aims to establish the significance of
Penrose Effect in this context. It also reflects the impact of Penrose effect on the offenders who
are mentally unstable.
Factors Associated with Penrose Effect
Mental well-being of an individual is directly linked with crimes committed. In 1939, Penrose,
English polymath, further investigated this relationship between crime and mental health.
Through the investigation made by Penrose, it was found that the relation between mental
hospital bed and prisoners is inversely proportional. The cross-sectional study was conducted by
Penrose on the basis of data found from 18 countries (Mundt, Chow & Priebe, 2015). The study
indicated that when the number of mental hospital bed rises, the number of prisoners go
downwards. On the other hand, when the number of mental hospital bed decreases, the number
of prisoners tend to take an upward direction. This is referred as Penrose effect. It has been found
that with more mental hospitals being closed, more criminal activities are taking place with
increasing number of prisoners in jails (Hayne, 2019). With each bed reduced from a mental
hospital, headcount of prisoners increases. This relation is linked with mental health. It is
considered that a person with lack of mental stabilization or poor mental health may lead to
anxiety and anger which in turn causes people to commit heinous crimes leading to boosting the
number of prisoners. Also, imprisoned individual may encounter a number of mental health
issues which might end up making them more vulnerable. At times, prisoners end up opting for
suicide or physically harm themselves out of anxiety or depression (Pallone, 2017). Lack of
proper treatment for the mental wellness of the prisoners may elevate negative impact on the
mental health of the prisoners.
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As it has been found that there is an inverse relation between prison population and psychiatric
beds, this theory can be used for treating the offenders who are mentally unstable. This inverse
relation indicates that when number of psychiatric bed reduces, prison population increases.
Hence, to ensure that the prison population does not increase, proper treatment should be allotted
to the ones who need it. Closure of mental health facilities may lead to higher crime rates
(Pallone, 2017). It is to be made sure that more mental hospitals are established to facilitate
proper treatment to the mentally unwell offenders. This will eventually boost mental wellness
and reduce crime rate. Treating the mentally unwell individuals is essential and more medical
facilities should be provided to offenders to help them lead a better life (Putkonen & Taylor,
2018). It is not only important to reduce crime rates, but also important for forming a better
social environment and maintain social balance of justice and wellness. As it is known that
closure of mental hospitals may lead to inadequate treatment opportunities for the mentally
unwell offenders, it is necessary to set up more mental health settings to make sure that each of
the affected person is being treated accurately. More provision for psychiatric beds can enhance
the chances of recovery which signifies harmony as there will be lower prison population
resulting from this development (Chow & Priebe, 2016). Prisons should be having adequate
medical facilities for the prisoners suffering from mental health issues. Most importantly, mental
health facilities should be increased to cope with the prison population and to ensure the number
of prison population decreases.
Conclusion
This report is focused on relation between psychiatric beds and the prison population. Both of
these factors are inversely related to each other and it is referred as Penrose effect. The report
contains implications of Penrose effect and how it is affected by the closure of mental health
settings. Also, the report identifies and reflects the way through which Penrose effect makes a
strong impact on the offenders suffering from mental disorders. This study will help to reduce
the crimes caused from mental illnesses and maintain healthy balance in society.
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References
Blüml, V., Waldhör, T., Kapusta, N. D., & Vyssoki, B. (2015). Psychiatric hospital bed numbers
and prison population sizes in 26 European countries: a critical reconsideration of the
penrose hypothesis. PLoS One, 10(11), e0142163.
Chow, W. S., & Priebe, S. (2016). How has the extent of institutional mental healthcare changed
in Western Europe? Analysis of data since 1990. BMJ open, 6(4), e010188.
Hayne, S. (2019). An Analysis and Critique of Mental Health Treatment in American State
Prisons and Proposal for Improved Care. Retrieved from:
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/1256/
Mundt, A. P., Chow, W. S., & Priebe, S. (2015). Testing the Penrose Hypothesis—Reply. JAMA
psychiatry, 72(7), 736-736.
Pallone, N. (2017). Mental disorder among prisoners: Toward an epidemiologic inventory.
Routledge.
Putkonen, H., & Taylor, P. J. (2018). Making sense of mental health service changes. Nordic
Journal of Psychiatry, 72(2), p. 82-83,
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