Poster #172 - Policing Involving Persons with Mental Illness: Researching Policy, Training, Interactions and Solutions during Encounters.

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

Mental illness, an umbrella of psychologically altering diseases of different varieties, is commonly misunderstood. For individuals who have mental illnesses, despite their identity, they are bound to be ridden with impairment that conflicts with their everyday lives, and often enough leading to encounters with law enforcement. Law enforcement serves the purpose of serving and protecting the community, of which should include everyone. Unfortunately, in many instances, mentally ill individuals are excluded from this purpose, typically due to a general misunderstanding of mental illness, lack of community resources, alongside an irrefutable lack of training appropriate for these situations. This study is meant to encourage awareness on the justice systems handling these individuals, promoting effective communication, encouraging crisis intervention teams, and other solutions to ensure limited recidivism and more individuals being provided better solutions rather than being pushed into the system or harmed.

Authors

• Jasmine Fraire, Dalton State College

• Natalie Johnson, Dalton State College