Police Identification of Mentally Ill Offenders

Introduction

A police officer’s ability to identify features of mental illness is critical because it determines the approach they take to resolve disputes. One of the issues that complicate a law enforcement officer’s assessment of mentally ill individuals is the similarity of their symptoms to substance abuse (Bohrman et al., 2018). The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 43.8 million individuals experience mental illness in the United States annually (PowerDMS, 2020). Reports from law enforcement agencies indicate that between 5 and 15% of all the calls they receive involve individuals diagnosed with mental illness (PowerDMS, 2020). The calls often involve irregular behavior, missing persons, criminal activities, and the threat of harm. The use of evidence-based strategies when responding to encounters involving mentally ill persons determines the efficiency with which such crises are resolved.

Challenges

The biggest challenge police officers face when responding to a call involving a mentally ill individual is distinguishing between the symptoms of an illness and criminal intent. For instance, individuals with schizophrenia often hallucinate and have irrational beliefs that specific individuals are out to get them (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2018). Individuals with bipolar disorder experience extreme shifts in mood that may predispose them to high-risk behaviors and depression (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2018). People with major depressive disorder may be suicidal, while those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder may experience hyper-arousal and panic when they are reminded of traumatic events (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2018). Similarities between the expression of mental illness and criminal behavior make handling individuals in the former category challenging.

The other challenge officers must contend with in mental illness scenarios is the assessment of risk. It is often difficult to determine the degree of safety due to the unpredictable nature of situations involving mentally ill persons (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2018). Gauging whether bystanders and the involved individual are exposed to harm can be complicated, which makes decision-making problematic. In addition, there is often limited information available, depending on the severity of the affected person’s condition or the presence of individuals who know him or her. Despite the aforementioned challenges, there are techniques that can be employed to address crisis situations effectively.

Interventions

There are several strategies that can be applied to effectively address encounters that involve individuals with mental disorders. The implementation of crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers will equip them with mental health skills and knowledge (PowerDMS, 2020). They will be better placed to identify symptoms of mental illness, the treatment options available to patients, and the health resources that can be used to aid suspected offenders. Police officers can also apply de-escalation techniques in crisis situations. It is vital that law enforcement officers learn to keep their distance and allow suspects with mental illness to vent (PowerDMS, 2020). In addition, mirror tactics can be applied to validate the involved individual’s feelings. Finally, it is important to limit the use of force once it has been ascertained that the individual in question is mentally ill and is not a threat to any person’s life or well-being.

Conclusion

Crisis situations involving mentally ill individuals are complex and multifaceted. The main challenges that officers face in such encounters include the difficulty of distinguishing the symptoms of a disease from criminal intent and the assessment of risk in volatile scenarios. It is critical that officers are equipped with the knowledge regarding the identification of features of mental illness. In addition, they must employ skills such as de-escalation techniques and mirror tactics. The correct identification of mentally ill individuals is critical for the preservation of their fundamental rights.

References

Bohrman, C., Blank Wilson, A., Watson, A., & Draine, J. (2018). How police officers assess for mental illnesses. Victims and Offenders, 13(8), 1077–1092. Web.

International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2018). Responding to persons experiencing a mental health crisis. Web.

PowerDMS. (2020). Policing the mentally ill. Web.