MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The Effects of Mental Abuse and Substance Abuse on Criminals

Abstract

Numerous criminals escape the prison term through insanity plea, even though they do not have a mental illness history. They claim to have an impact of mental or substance abuse, which has led them to commit a crime. This paper explains the relation of mental illness and substance abuse on the criminals. It also explains the criminal justice system and the theories of the social and criminal system.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Mental Illness and Substance Abuse2

Relationship between Mental Illness and Substance Abuse3

Perspectives of Substance-Abusing Parents4

Risk Factors for Substance Abuse5

Relationship of Social Justice and Criminal Justice System Operations7

Crime Scene Investigation Techniques and Security7

The Collection, Preservation and Presentation of Evidence8

Issues related to Correctional Institutions, Incarceration, and Release11

Criminal and Social Justice Theories14

Insanity Plea14

Contemporary Criminal and Social Justice15

Centralization of Criminal Justice Agencies17

Agency Act of 200217

Homeland Security Act18

The International Aspects of Criminal and Social Justice19

Conclusion19

Reference21

The Effects of Mental Abuse and Substance Abuse on Criminals

Introduction

There are numerous of criminals who escape the prison term through insanity plea, even though they do not have a mental illness history. Several criminals opt for the insanity plea and escape the prison trial. They plead that they were under substance influence or were not in a mentally fit state to distinguish what is right and what is wrong. However, there are criminals who have opted for insanity plea, yet they had no past records of any mental illness. The usage of substance abuse has also been a debatable issue in the criminal justice system. Substance abuse is defined as an excessive use of substances or large enough to affect a person's relationships with his family and his friends, his ability to work study or meet family obligations or to cause legal problems or dangerous behavior. It also involves the use or taking of substances in quantities of greater and greater, the fact of giving the greatest difficulty to obtain the substance, the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the substance or the inability to stop or reduce the taking of the substance. This paper discusses the effects of mental abuse and substance abuse on the criminals.

Thesis Statement: We often hear of someone arrested for theft by deception, rape, murder, and drug charges. Usually, some defendants will use the insanity plea to escape prison term. Researchers are trying to distinguish if mental illness and substance abuse have an effect on criminals. There are many criminals that have no history of mental illness or substance abuse that made him or her commit a crime.

Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is generally regarded as the use of illegal drugs or to improve performance with no medical or therapeutic purposes. Drug abuse can occur with both legal (e.g. alcohol, cigarettes, prescription and OTC drugs [OTC]) and illegal substances (cocaine, heroin, marijuana). Drug abuse can lead to psychological and physical addiction, with the degree of physical addiction, depending on the properties of the drug. Because of metabolic differences between the sexes, women are ...