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Mental Illness, Criminality, and Citizenship

NCJ Number
185468
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: 2000 Pages: 262-264
Author(s)
Michael Rowe Ph.D.; Madelon Baranoski Ph.D.
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article proposes a framework of citizenship for efforts at integrating into the community persons with mental illness who are, or are at risk of becoming, involved with the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The article conceptualizes three levels of citizenship: full citizenship, with strong practical and psychological connections to mainstream institutions, rights and responsibilities; second-class citizenship, with marginal connections to those institutions, rights and responsibilities; and noncitizenship, in which the individual has been severed from, or has very limited contact with, mainstream society, as in the case of stigmatized and marginalized homeless persons with mental illness. The citizenship model provides a conceptual framework for practical initiatives that can build on or be linked with diversion or rehabilitation programs to give mentally ill persons an opportunity to assume productive roles in society. The article describes specific initiatives at the organizational and systems level, individual interventions and associated research needs. References