How Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior

Are Linked

Sandy Diaz (Echon)

CRJ 308 Psychology of Criminal

Instructor: Jennifer Stephens

October 18, 2011

First of all Mental Illness is a disorder of the mind that is judged by experts to interfere substantially with a person's ability to cope with life on a daily basis. It presumably deprives the person of freedom of choice, but it is important to note that there are degrees to this deprivation. Mental illness is manifested in behavior that deviates notably from normal conduct.

Secondly a Criminal Behavior is intentional behavior that violates a criminal code, intentional in that it did not occur accidentally or without justification or excuse. Since crime encompasses so many types of behavior. According to Dr. E. Torrey, the...