The criminal mental patient: A Descriptive Analysis and Suggestions for Future Research

The present study extends prior research on the criminality of mental patients by providing an in-depth analysis of their movements through the criminal justice and mental health systems. The arrests and admissions of a random sample of patients were recorded during a six-month period, and the circumstances surrounding each of the episodes were examined. Criminal and psychiatric histories were also obtained along with patients' self-reports of violence and victimization experiences. Although relatively few of the patients were arrested during the reference period, a number of those who were arrested had serious criminal records. Patient arrestees were more likely than nonarrestees to be hospitalized in the follow-up period and to have more previous psychiatric admissions overall.