The Ties between Mental Illness and Crime - Research Proposal Example

The Ties between Mental Illness and Crime Introduction The link between mental illness and crime has been investigated for a long time by several researchers, and the evidences to prove the essential connection between the two are mounting. Significantly, the relationship between mental illness and crime has given rise to heated debates among the researchers in the area and the difference of opinion is mainly on whether the connection between the two is adequately proved or weakly associated. In fact, the vast majority of the people with mental illness are not associated with crimes and most of the criminals are not mentally ill. However, one cannot easily underestimate the close association between mental illness and crime, which has led many of the researchers to make crucial conclusions on the link between the two. Essentially, Larry J. Siegel (2009) throws some light on the relevance of further studies on the topic in order to make a vital conclusion on the issue: “Although a link between mental instability and criminality seems logical, the evidence associating the two conditions is still inconclusive.” (Siegel, 102) Therefore, this paper proposes to undertake a comprehensive and reflective exploration of the link between mental illness and crime in order to help future researches on the topic and make a valid conclusion on the issue. Research Question and Significance The most essential research question undertaken in this study is: What is the essential relationship between mental illness and crime? Are there enough empirical research evidences to prove the link between the two? What are the fundamental factors affecting the relationship between mental illness and crime? The complicated relationship between mental illness and crime has been the topic of investigation of several of the previous researches, but evidences associating the two conditions are still missing. A detailed analysis of the proposed research question will bridge the missing link between the previous studies and future researches on the relationship between mental illness and crime. The significance of this research question is that it makes a comprehensive analysis of the ties between mental illness and crime and makes a fundamental contribution to the existing literature on the topic. Project Design and Feasibility This proposed research on the ties between mental illness and crime focuses mainly on a qualitative analysis of the research questions, based mainly on a comprehensive literature review of the researches on the topic in order to find empirical evidences on the link between the two. A review of the literature through the recent scholarly articles and books will be highly useful in a comprehensive discussion on the topic and the analysis of the research questions will mainly depends on the literature review. As it is the qualitative research methodology that is proposed in this study, the analysis of the research question based on the available empirical evidences will be at the core of the research findings and conclusions of the proposed study. Background The ties between mental illness and crime is an essential topic of study in courses in Criminal Justice and Psychology and the vast amount of literature written on this topic clearly shows the relevance of this study. Significantly, the link between mental illness and crime has been widely acknowledged and well-known in Criminal Justice and Psychology and it has given rise to serious discussions concerning Psychiatry and the dilemmas of crime. It is fundamental to comprehend that this essential connection between mental illness and crime has been topic of researches for several centuries. As Robert L. Arrington (1983) remarks, “the problem of the relationship between crime and insanity has concerned thoughtful persons for centuries.” (Arrington, 149) Although the likelihood of a straightforward relationship between mental disorder and crime is thought to be diminutive, there has been difference of opinion on this question. Significantly, “whatever the complex nature of the relationship between crime and mental disorder, that relationship has implications for the relevant procedures used in both the criminal justice and mental health systems.” (Peay, 2) Therefore, it is fundamental to come up with a comprehensive investigation of the proposed research questions in order to find an agreeable conclusion on the issue at hand. As Seymour L. Halleck (1971) maintains, it is fundamental to “be able to demonstrate and describe a relationship between such behavior (criminal behavior) and mental illness.” (Halleck, 36) Therefore, the research proposed in this study has vital relevance in the context of the modern world where the link between crime and mental illness has been widely investigated. Presentation and Evaluation The research questions investigated in this study will be presented in the form of a research paper, following the prescribed format of a scholarly research paper. The evaluation of the research questions will be made mainly using the qualitative method of research and the tools employed in research papers. Conclusion An investigation of the relationship between crime and mental illness is most relevant in courses in Criminal Justice and Psychology and the heated debates on the topic in the contemporary world makes it especially important research question. Although several crucial investigations have already been done on the topic, the link between crime and mental illness has not been clearly demonstrated. There is a need for further researches on the topic which will help in the understanding of the vital connection between the two. This proposed research is a humble endeavor to decipher the existing literature on the topic and come up with a striking conclusion on the link between crime and mental illness. Works Cited Arrington, Robert L. “Mental Illness and Crime.” Biomedical Ethics Reviews 1983. Robert F. Almeder. (Ed). Humana Press. 1983. P 149. Siegel, Larry J. Introduction to Criminal Justice. New York: Cengage Learning. 2009. P 102. Peay, Jill. Mental Health and Crime. London: Routledge. 2009. P 2. Halleck, Seymour L. Psychiatry and the dilemmas of crime: a study of causes, punishment, and treatment. University of California Press. 1971. P 36. Read More