Jeremy is 23. He and his sister live with his mother in a three-bedroom house in a low-income neighbourhood. Jeremy was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his late teens, and has been prescribed medicatio

Assignment Task

Assessment overview

Students are asked to choose one of two case studies of people with mental disorders in the criminal justice system. There is no assessment form (or template). Total word count is 1500 words (+/-10%).

Assessment task

Choose ONE of the below case studies, then answer the following questions:

1. What are the issues that need to be considered in relation to the selected individual?
2. Choose one form of police first responder program for people with mental disorder to apply to the case study. Use academic research to source your description.
3. Explain the strengths and limitations of your selected program using the selected case study. Use academic research on the police first responder model to support your arguments.

Case studies

CASE STUDY 1:

Jeremy is 23. He and his sister live with his mother in a three-bedroom house in a low-income neighbourhood. Jeremy was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his late teens, and has been prescribed medication for this disorder since that time. On the morning of the current incident, Jeremy was upset and angry because he could not find his mobile phone. He sister located his phone and gave it to him, but he insisted it wasn’t his phone, and he became more upset and agitated. He was slamming doors in the home, knocking over furniture and punched a hole in the wall. When he walked out the front door, the sister locked the door behind him so that he wouldn’t cause any further damage. She stated that she did not fear for her own safety. Knowing that her son needed to be admitted to hospital for psychiatric care, and feeling she would be unable to get him there safely without assistance, his mother rang the police. Upon arrival, the police had limited information from the dispatcher. They had been advised that there was a person with a mental disorder who had been acting violently. When Jeremy saw the police, he grabbed a sharp gardening tool and began approaching the officers.

CASE STUDY 2:

Graham is 24. He has a long history of depression. He has used prescription medication to treat his depression for periods of time, but has never taken them consistently. He uses alcohol and marijuana as a coping devise, however he is violent when he drinks alcohol, and his marijuana use exacerbates his fatigue and lack of motivation and he has been unable to sustain employment. He has also become increasingly paranoid, with beliefs centred around his partner wanting to cheat on him and people stealing from him. There is no indication that these beliefs are based in reality. He has attempted to commit suicide on two previous occasions. On the day of the incident he has been drinking heavily, and become violent with his live-in partner. He tells her if she tries to leave him he will kill her and himself. Neighbours call the police, and advise that they have heard screams and yelling coming from next-door, and that the man next door has a mental disorder. Upon arrival, the police had limited information from the dispatcher.