IDENTIFYING THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

There is a high rate of individuals suffering from mental health represented in the criminal justice system as opposed to the general population. Many people who have mental illness are currently in jail rather than receiving care in psychiatric hospitals. The main objective of the study is to identify literature that builds a theoretical understanding of the association between mental health and criminal behaviour to provide knowledge on ways mental health conditions influence an individual likelihood to engage in criminal acts. It will conduct a systematic review to analyze, examine, and synthesize findings from research studies on the association between mental health and criminality. The study followed the Cochrane guidelines to inform the review and summarize the literature on mental health and criminal behaviour. The study results established a need to address the link between mental health, violent behaviour, and crime engagement, as this plays a significant role in shaping effective criminal justice responses. The study recommends the implementation of Crisis Intervention Team Program Model (CITPM) to train police officers in the criminal justice system to assist in responding to crimes related to people suffering from mental health illness.