Attitudes and feelings of criminal justice personnel toward the mentally ill.
The present study compared the attitudes and feelings of law-enforcement, corrections, parole and probation personnel, and college students toward mental illness. Modified versions of the Criminally Insane Scale (Khanna, Pratt, & Gardiner, 1962) and Attitudes Toward Mental Illness Scale (Cohen & Struening, 1962) were used in assessing these attitudes. Law-enforcement and corrections personnel tended to believe many of the stereotypic causes of mental illness, while the college students based their views on more current thinking. In addition, law-enforcement and corrections personnel indicated greater fear of the criminally insane than the other two groups. Possible causes and ramifications of these differences are discussed.
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders; D011287:Prejudice; D012926:Social Control, Formal