NCJ Number
53976
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE COMPLEXITIES INVOLVED IN DETERMINING HOW SOCIETY IS TO DEAL WITH DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ROLE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION.
Abstract
LABELING VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AS EITHER BAD OR MAD IS CENTRAL TO DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PART OF THE PERSON WHO ENGAGES IN THE BEHAVIOR AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE APPROPRIATE REPSONSE TO THAT PERSON. THE ISSUE OF RESPONSIBILITY IS CLEARLY A SOCIAL-LEGAL ONE, WITH THE COURTS REFLECTING THE COMMUNITY'S WISHES AS TO WHO SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR. BUT THE ISSUE HAS BECOME SOMEWHAT CONFUSED AS SOCIETY HAS TURNED TO THOSE WHO SUPPLIED THE LABELS, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TO SUPPLY SOLUTIONS AS WELL. PSYCHIATRISTS REALLY KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT VIOLENCE IN GENERAL BUT HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS IN TREATING VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INPATIENT PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN THOSE THAT INCLUDED SOME FORM OF FOLLOWUP--EFFORTS TO ASSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS CONTINUED THEIR MEDICATION AND OTHER TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS ONCE THEY RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY. SUCCESS HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLICS, DRUG ADDICTS, AND SEX OFFENDERS IN OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS INVOLVING VARIOUS DEGREES AND FORMS OF COERCION. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR IS NOT THE SAME AS EXCUSING IT AND MUST LEARN TO SHIFT THEIR LEVEL OF CONCERN APPROPRIATELY WHEN THEY ARE DEALING WITH PATIENTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED SERIOUS OFFENSES AS A RESULT OF THEIR ILLNESS. BUT IT IS UP TO SOCIETY TO DETERMINE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, WITH WHOM, AND WHEN. IT IS ALSO UP TO SOCIETY TO SUPPORT THE FURTHER DEVOLPMENT OF METHODS OF TREATMENT AND PERHAPS TO ALTER SOME OF ITS CONCEPTS OF FREEDOM AND RIGHTS TO ALLOW TREATMENT TO BE IMPLEMENTED. (LKM)