 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kristen Roy-Bujnowski, MA and William H. Fisher, PhD. Center for Mental Health Services Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508-856-8723, Kristen.Roy@umassmed.edu
Previous studies have demonstrated that persons with a mental illness (PMI) have a higher risk than the general population of being arrested, due perhaps to environmental instability, poverty, and stigma regarding mental illness. Many believe that symptomatic persons, who in the past, would have been admitted to a state hospital, are now being arrested for misdemeanor crimes. Social Disorganization theory recognizes that these factors, and others such as population density increase the chances of criminal activity in the general population. The study applies Social Disorganization theory to data on PMI -police officer interactions in a medium-sized city. Two types of encounters are examined: (1) arrest and (2) transport to an emergency mental health facility for psychiatric evaluation and possible involuntary hospitalization. The essential question posed in the study is whether these "criminogenic" factors apply to police interactions with PMI. Electronic data generated by the Worcester,MA police department and Census 2000 data were utilized to test for environmental effects.
Results of the comparison will aid health care providers to 1) recognize environmental factors influencing police decisions regarding PMI circumstances 2) educate PMI on identifying and avoiding risk areas 3) develop alternative solutions for managing PMI?s committing misdemeanors.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.