Mental Illness and Crime

Mental Illness and Crime comprehensively synthesizes and critically examines what is currently known about the relationship of mental illness and individual psychiatric disorders, in particular with criminal, violent, and other forms of antisocial behavior. The book integrates scholarship from psychology, psychiatry, clinical neuroscience, criminology, and law when presenting explanations for and etiologies of mental illness–related criminal and violent behaviors. Moreover, the book provides the reader with a diagnostic understanding of mental disorders across various classification systems, including the current DSM-5 and ICD-10. In addition, Robert  A. Schug and Henry F. Fradella critically examine what is known about the treatment and social implications of this body of research, including its practical applications within the criminal justice system. Unique to the field, this text will contribute to a better understanding of criminality and violence and move society toward a greater acceptance of individuals with these illnesses.

Henry F. Fradella earned a BA in psychology from Clark University, a master’s in forensic science and a law degree from The George Washington University, and a PhD in interdisciplinary justice studies from Arizona State University. He is currently a professor in and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University, Long Beach. His area of specialization is the social scientific study of courts and law. This includes research and teaching on the historical development of substantive, procedural, and evidentiary criminal law (including the courtroom acceptability of forensic and social scientific evidence, especially forensic psychological/psychiatric testimony); evaluation of law′s effects on human behavior; the dynamics of legal decision making; and the nature, sources, and consequences of variations and changes in legal institutions or processes. He is the author or co-author of 8 books and 75 articles, reviews, and scholarly commentaries that have appeared in various periodicals, including American Journal of Criminal Law, Criminal Justice Policy Review, Criminal Law Bulletin, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, Journal of Law and Public Policy, Journal of Law and Sexuality, The Justice Systems Journal, Law and Psychology Review, The Prison Journal, and Western Criminology Review.