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However, The Researcher Of This Paper Has Chosen To Dedicate A Section Of Its ...

However, the researcher of this paper has chosen to dedicate a section of its literature review to the issues raised in the title of this section because he feels that, if a convincing link between mental ill-health and criminality/criminal recidivism can be demonstrated then it would provide additional support for the importance of reform in this area. After all, the youth of today are the adults of the future, and if it can be shown that reducing the prevalence of mental ill-health in young offender institutions has a positive (reducing) effect on the rates of recidivism then the Criminal Justice System may be compelled to dedicate extra time, money and resources on further research in this area and also on the implementation of reforms designed to reduce the prevalence of this problem.
The first point to note is that there is a body of research which suggests that young persons with mental disorders are more likely to be arrested, charged and convicted for their criminal behaviour than those young people in similar circumstances who do not have such severe mental problems [Teplin, 1984]. This is supported by the research study conducted by Singleton et al (1998) which found that the majority of prisoners who had been diagnosed as having mental illness had, prior to having contact with the Justice System, already had contact with the NHS and other welfare services.
These findings cannot be squared easily with the findings of other research studies which suggest that further offending [is] not predicted by mental health needs or alcohol and drug abuse problems. [Harrington and Bailey, 2005, p8] After all, if mental ill-health can predict first instance-offending in young persons, then it must also surely be a predictor of recidivism in these persons also. This researcher is therefore more inclined to rely upon other research studies which suggest that this is not the case: For example, the study conducted by the Mental Health Foundation [Hagell, 2002, p24] found that: The outcomes for young offenders in need of mental health services include: further offending and worsening mental health problems if the needs are not met. The two are interlinked.

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