Thesis (M.S.W.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-125). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-103). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thèse (Ph.D.)--Université de Montréal, 1998. / Comprend des réf. bibliogr.

There are approximately 5 million mentally ill detainees across the globe and a further 1 million who suffer from a severe mental illness. Various research has shown that the prevalence of mental illness within the corrections system is more substantive than that of the general population. On average, there is an upsurge by 1 million mentally ill detainees globally per year. Approximately all detainees detained in a correctional facility encounter depression or stress symptoms, however low rates of identification and treatment prevail. Further to this, the quality of the treatment provided to mentally ill offenders is questionable. The aim of the research study is to explore the prevalence of mental illness amongst detainees in South Africa, Nigeria, Germany, and the United States of America. The study investigates the availability of legislation in all four countries using the various international guidelines as a benchmark, the provisioning of rehabilitation programmes, and the challenges in providing rehabilitation, mental health care, and treatment to the mentally ill. Furthermore, the study sets out to ascertain whether the treatment and conditions in detention facilities meet international standards. Whilst considering that not all mentally ill offenders will need specialist psychiatric treatment, differing levels of care should be available on a continuous basis by personnel who are adequately proficient in reducing mental harm and in promoting mental health among offenders. Recommendations include the need to conduct wider-scale national studies to make for easier comparisons and for benchmarking purposes. The availability of mental health legislation in itself is not a panacea for reducing mental health illness, but having to put this into practice is of paramount importance. The corrections system is at the end of the value chain and does not have a choice of closing their doors to offenders. They therefore need to partner with various government departments (criminal justice system, social systems, education systems, and community structures amongst others), to find an integration point to share knowledge and insight into the challenges facing corrections and for the Criminal Justice System to acknowledge that severely mentally ill individuals should never be sent to corrections. / Daar is ongeveer 5 miljoen sielsieke aangehoudenes wêreldwyd en ʼn verdere 1 miljoen wat aan ʼn ernstige geestesversteuring ly. Navorsing toon dat die voorkoms van geestesversteuring in die korrektiewe stelsel meer substantief as by die algemene bevolking is. Daar is jaarliks ʼn gemiddelde styging van 1 miljoen sielsieke aangehoudenes wêreldwyd. Feitlik alle aangehoudenes in ʼn korrektiewe fasiliteit ervaar simptome van depressie of stres, maar die syfers ten opsigte van identifisering en behandeling is laag. Die gehalte van die behandeling wat sielsieke oortreders ontvang, is boonop twyfelagtig. Die oogmerk van hierdie navorsing was om die voorkoms van geestesversteuring onder aangehoudenes in Suid-Afrika, Nigerië, Duitsland en die Verenigde State van Amerika te ondersoek. Die studie het ondersoek ingestel na die beskikbaarheid van wetgewing in al vier die lande, met behulp van die verskillende internasionale riglyne as ʼn maatstaf, die voorsiening van rehabilitasieprogramme en die uitdagings wat met die voorsiening van rehabilitasie, geestesgesondheidsorg en behandeling van die geestesiekes gepaardgaan. Die studie het ook ten doel gehad om te bepaal of die behandeling en toestande in aanhoudingsfasiliteite aan internasionale standaarde voldoen. Met inagneming daarvan dat nie alle sielsieke gevangenes spesialis- psigiatriese behandeling benodig nie, moet verskillende vlakke van sorg deurlopend beskikbaar gestel word deur bekwame personeel wat oor die vermoë beskik om geesteskade te verminder en om gevangenes se geestesgesondheid te bevorder. Aanbevelings sluit die behoefte in om studies op ʼn groter skaal landswyd uit te voer vir doeleindes van makliker vergelykings en vir normstelling. Hoewel die beskikbaarheid van wetgewing oor geestesgesondheid nie opsigself ʼn wondermiddel is vir die vermindering van geestesversteuring nie, is dit uiters noodsaaklik dat die wetgewing in plek moet wees. Die korrektiewe stelsel is aan die einde van die waardeketting, dus is dit nie ʼn opsie om hul deure vir oortreders te sluit nie. Hulle moet dus met verskeie staatsdepartemente (onder andere, strafregsplegingstelsel, maatskaplike stelsels, opvoedingstelsels en gemeenskapstrukture) saamspan om ʼn integrasiepunt te vind om kennis en insig rakende die uitdagings wat die korrektiewe stelsel in die gesig staar te deel, en sodat die strafregsplegingstelsel sal erken dat individue met ernstige geestesversteurings nooit na korrektiewe fasiliteite gestuur moet word nie. / Kukhona abantu abacishe babengu 5 miliyoni abagula ngengqondo abavalelwe kuwo wonke umhlaba, kanti kukhona abanye abangu 1 miliyoni abahlushwa yisifo sengqondo. Ucwaningo lukhombise ukuthi ubukhona besifo sengqondo kwinqubo yezamajele bukhulu kakhulu ukudlula kwisizwe sonkana ngokunabile. Ngokwesilingniso, kukhona ukwenyuka kwabantu abagula ngengqondo abavalelwe abangu 1 miliyoni kuwo wonke umhlaba ngonyaka. Cishe bonke abantu abavalelwe ezindawo zamajele babanokuxineka kwengqondo noma izimpawu zingcindezi, kodwa izinga lokuphawulwa kwabo kanye nokuthola ukwelashwa liphansi. Kanti futhi okunye, iqophelo lokwelashwa elihlinzekwa abantu abonile abagula ngengqondo alilihle. Inhloso yalesi sifundo socwaningo, bekuwukuphenya ngobukhona bokugula ngengqondo kubantu abavalelwe eNingizimu Afrika, eNigeria, eGermany nase-United States of America. Ucwaningo luphenyisise ngobukhona bemithetho kuwo womane amazwe ngokusebenzisa imikhombandlela kazwelonke njenge-benchmark, ukuhlinzekwa kwezinhlelo zokwelapha kanye nezinselele ezikhona ngokuhlinzeka ngokwelapha, unakekelo lwezempilo yengqondo kanye nokwelashwa kwabagula ngengqondo. Kanti futhi okunye, ucwaningo belufuna ukuqinisekisa ukuthi ngabe ukwelashwa nezimo ezikhona ezindaweni zokuvalelwa emajele kuhlangabezana namazinga amazwe omhlaba. Ngisho noma kubonelelwa ukuthi akuyibo bonke ababoshiwe abagula ngengqondo abadinga ukwelashwa ngokwengqondo kwezinga le-psychiatric, kodwa amazinga ehlukene onakekelo, kumele atholakale ngokuqhubekela phambili okunikezwa ngabantu abanolwazi nekhono ngokufanele ekuphunguleni ukulimala kwengqondo kanye nokuqhubekisela phambili impilo yezengqondo kwababoshiwe Izincomo zibandakanya isidingo sokwenza ucwaningo olunabile kumazwe ukwenzela ukuthi kubelula ukuqhathanisa kanye nenhloso yokwenza i-benchmarking. Ubukhona bemithetho yonakekelo lwempilo yengqondo akusona isixazululo sakho konke ngokuphungula ukugula ngengqondo, kodwa ukuba nemithetho esebenzayo kubaluleke kakhulu. Inqubo yezamajele isekugcineni, kanti ayinalo ukhetho lokuvala iminyango kubantu ababoshiwe. Ngakho-ke izikhungo zababoshiwe kumele zisebenzisane neminyango ehlukene kahulumeni (inqubo yezobulingiswa yamajele, izinqubo zenhlalakahle yabantu, izinqubo zemfundo kanye nezakhiwo zemiphakathi, phakathi kokunye) ukuthola indawo ehlangene yokwabelana ngolwazi mayelana nezinselele amajele abhekane nazo kanye nenqubo yezobulungisa yamajele ukwamukela ukuthi abantu abagula kakhulu ngengqondo akumele bathunyelwe emajele. / Go na le bagolegwa ba ka bago 5 milione bao ba lwalago ka monaganong lefaseng ka bophara le ba bangwe ba 1 milione ba ba nago ba lwalago kudu ka monaganong. Dinyakisiso di bontshitse gore go ata ga malwetsi a monagano ka gare ga tshepediso ya ditshokollo go bohlokwa kudu go feta ka gare ga setshaba ka kakaretso. Ka kakaretso, go na le koketsego ya bagolegwa bao ba lwalago ka monaganong ba 1 milione lefaseng ka bophara ka ngwaga. Ba e ka bago bagolegwa ka moka bao ba golegilwego lefelong la tshokollo ba itemogela kgatelelo ya monagano goba dika tsa kgatelelo, eupsa dikelo tsa boitshupo le boitshwaro le kalafo di fase. Go feta mo, boleng bja kalafo ye e fiwago basenyi ba ba lwalago ka monaganong bo a belaetsa. Maikemisetso a dinyakisiso tse e be e le go utolla go ata ga bolwetsi bja monagano gare ga bagolegwa ka Afrika Borwa, Nigeria, Germany le United States of America. Dinyakisiso di nyakisisitse go hwetsagala ga melao dinageng ka moka tse nne go somiswa ditlhahli tsa go fapafapana tsa boditshabatshaba bjalo ka motheo, kabelo ya mananeo a tsosoloso le ditlhohlo tsa go abela tshokollo, tlhokomelo ya maphelo a monagano le kalafo go bao ba lwalago ka monaganong. Go feta moo, dinyakisiso di ile tsa ikemisetsa go netefatsa gore kalafo le maemo a dikgolego a fihlelela maemo a boditshabatshaba. Ge re ntse re nagana gore ga se bagolegwa fela ka moka bao ba lwalago ka monaganong ba tla hloka kalafo ye e kgethegilelego ya malwetsi a monagano, tlhokomelo ye e fapanego e swanetse go hwetsagala ka mo go tswelago pele ke bahlankedi ba ba nago le bokgoni bjo bo lekanego bja go fokotsa dikotsi tsa monagano le go tswetsa pele maphelo a monagano gare ga bagolegwa. Ditigelo di akaretsa tlhokego ya go dira dinyakisiso tse di tseneletsego tsa setshaba go dira dipapiso tse bonolo le bakeng sa merero ya go bea maemo. Go hwetsagala ga molao wa maphelo a monagano ka bowona ga se pheko ya go fokotsa malwetsi a mongano, eupsa go somisa molao wo ke selo se bohlokwa kudu. Tshepediso ya ditshokollo e mafelelong a tatelano ya tshepediso gomme ga e na kgetho ya go tswalelela basenyi ka ntle. Ka gona ba hloka go somisana le dikgoro tsa go fapafapana tsa mmuso (tshepediso ya toka go bosenyi, ditshepediso tsa leago, ditshepediso tsa thuto le dikarolo tsa setshaba, gare ga tse dingwe) go humana ntlha ya kopanyo go abelana tsebo le temoso ditlhohlong tse di lebanego le ditshokollo bakeng sa tshepediso ya toka go bosenyi go amogela gore batho bao ba lwalago kudu ka monaganong le gatee ga ba swanela go romelwa ditshokollong. / Criminology and Security Science / Ph. D. (Criminal Justice)

No description available.

This study examined, within the South African context, the prevalence of mental retardation in a forensic observation setting, and the impediments of and successes to forensic rehabilitation. The results of the study indicated that a significant amount of forensic observation patients (25.16%) are ultimately diagnosed as being mentally retarded, with 39.24 percent of such offenders being found unfit to plead. Further 32.91 percent of the same sample was found to be not responsible for their actions. A link was also drawn between the mentally retarded offender and violent offenses. The advantages and disadvantages of a current rehabilitative process are discussed in light of alternate community-based forms of rehabilitation that are being implemented in other countries, for example the United States of America, with a view towards investigated their usefulness and adaptability to South African circumstances. The findings of the study have implications for mental health professionals working within forensic settings concerning the future management of mentally retarded offenders, particularly within the rehabilitative process .

This dissertation deals with the comparative analysis of mental illness as a defence in criminal law. The mental illness / insanity defence is deemed applicable when the accused does not have mens rea or lacks criminal responsibility or is afflicted by the inability to appreciate the wrongfulness of his act and act accordingly, at the time of the commission of the offence due to a pathological disturbance of the mental faculties. A review of the law in South Africa, English Law and United States of America law was done with regard to their approach in connection with the matter. The legal systems of South Africa, English Law and the United States of America were compared and analyzed because English Law and United States of America are developed countries and I decided to compare their approach to insanity defence with reference to South Africa, which is a developing country. Similarities were drawn between South Africa and English Law and this could be attributed to the fact that South African law emanated from English law. This is an important research topic on comparative analysis of mental illness as a defence in criminal law. The law applicable today in South Africa in respect of the defence of mental illness is combined in the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, which replaced the criteria as set out in the M’Naghten rules and the irresistible impulse test. In all the three countries law that were compared the burden of proof has always been on the accused to prove his case on a balance of probabilities but in South Africa the position now is he who alleges must prove because of the legislative amendments. United States of America law allows for the forcible medication with drugs of the mentally ill defendants who are charged with crimes so that they can be fit to stand trial. This is the only country in the ones that were analyzed, which practices such a barbaric and inhuman acts. In the USA , the defendant has the burden of proving the defence of insanity by clear and convincing evidence, and the finding in not guilty by reason of insanity, English law, South African law has the same finding in insanity cases. The most common diagnosis used in support of a defence of insanity continues to be schizophrenia in South Africa and in English law system. In the English law system, the Home Secretary has the power to order defendant to be detained in a hospital on the basis of reports from at least two medical practitioners that the defendant is suffering from mental illness, if the minister is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so. In South Africa, the accused will be detained in a psychiatric hospital or a prison pending the decision of a judge in chambers. The detention of those found not guilty by reason of insanity could be challenged under the Human Rights Act in English law because the legal definition of insanity is far wider than the medical concept of mental disorder. The Drs under English Law have to use the legal, not the medical understanding of the mental disorder. The placing of a burden of proof on the defendant may be challengeable under European Convention of Human Rights as contrary to the presumption of innocence that is protected under convention. Finally this is a controversial subject on mental illness but the position in South Africa has been clear for a long time, and I did not come across any deficiencies in our law. I submit that South African law position on mental illness is good.

The mentally ill who have been found not guilty of a crime by reason of insanity (NGRI), appear to be at risk in several areas when confronted with the judicial system. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the factors which predict recidivism of NGRI patients in Community Out-patient Treatment (COT) also inhibit a patient's release into a conditional release program (CONREP).

Police officers are allowed considerable discretion within the criminal justice system in addressing illegal behaviors and interpersonal conflicts. Broadly, such resolutions fall into two categories: formal (e.g., arrest) and informal outcomes. Many of these interventions involve persons who have historically faced stigmatization, such as those who have mental disorders, criminal histories, or both (i.e., mentally disordered offenders). On this point, stigma generally includes discriminatory behavior toward the stigmatized person or group and can be substantially influenced by internal and external attributions. In addition, researchers have suggested that internal attributions lead to punishing behaviors and external attributions lead to helping behaviors. The current study examined attributions about offender behavior made by police officers in an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of Corrigan’s model. Specifically, this study investigated the effects of officer attributions on their immediate decisions in addressing intentionally ambiguous and minor offenses. Officers provided one of two vignettes of a hypothetical offender who was either mentally disordered or intoxicated and provided their anticipated resolution of the situation. Encouragingly, disposition decision differed by offender condition, with a substantially higher rate of arrests for the intoxicated offender (i.e., the external condition). Corrigan’s model was initially successful for both offender conditions, but was overall more successful for the mentally disordered condition. Results are discussed within the broader context of police policy, such as crisis intervention training, and identification of officers who could benefit from additional mental health trainings.

Background. A number of commentators (Holloway 1996 Muijen 1996a; 1996b) have suggested that two events in the form of homicides carried out by mental health service users came to exert a disproportionate influence on English mental health policy over the period 1985-2000. In particular it has been suggested that the events formed the focus for a ‘moral panic’ caused by ‘irresponsible’ and ‘sensationalist’ reporting in UK newspapers (Neal 1998; Prins and Swan 1998). Aims. In the light of such claims this study critically explores the role played by the deaths of Jonathan Zito and Isabel Schwarz play in establishing violent assaults perpetrated by people experiencing mental illness as a ‘social problem’. It examines whether a shift in the discourse on mental illness took place in UK newspapers and explores how the deaths of Isabel Schwarz were and Jonathan Zito were framed in terms of causal responsibility. Finally it evaluates what influence, if any, the deaths in question had on the social policy agenda. Design. Case study / mixed design integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. Method. Content analysis consisting of a longitudinal analysis of the nature of the representation of mental illness changed over the period in two UK newspaper. Framing a sub-type of discourse analysis examined changes in the discourse of mental illness and the effects of the emergence of the community care tragedy as a ‘new’ narrative. It was also used to examine the potential influence on social policy on mental illness of changes in societal level frames particularly the emergence of the risk society. Results. The content analysis found that mental illness appeared increasingly in the context of a threat to public safety in newspapers over the period but that the overall representation was more balanced. The framing analysis identified and evidenced a competitive process in framing the issue of homicides committed by service users with mental health problems and demonstrated the potential influence of macro level social frames on the policy making proces