Crime and violence by persons with mental illness: New evidence requires new mental health policies and practices

Investigations conducted in a number of different countries have all shown that persons with mental illness, as compared to those without, are at increased risk to commit nonviolent crimes and at even higher risk to commit violent crimes. Persons with schizophrenia are at very increased risk to commit homicide. Most patients who commit crimes are treated in general psychiatry. Yet, current practices in general psychiatry do not take account of what has been learned about crime and violence of mentally ill persons. Patients who are at high risk to offend need to be identified and provided with treatments designed specifically to reduce antisocial behaviour and criminality. Not only does this require modifying current policies and practices, it will likely involve passing new laws to allow for involuntary community treatment.