Is there a direct link between crime and mental health?

Chastity Doderer: Mental health evaluations are used by judges to determine if the accused is fit to stand trial. He or she has to be able to understand the charges made against them, the implications of their plea, the conduct of the trial as it occurs, and the determination of guilty or not guilty. The bad childhood idea was an old concept from the early days of attempting criminal rehabilitation. While not necessarily false, having a bad childhood does not mean one becomes a criminal. There have been plenty of examples that showed the connection between the two is minimal, one can have a great childhood too and still become a criminal later in life. All of that said however, a large percentage of prisoners housed in correctional facilities are mentally ill, suffering from everything from schizophrenia to mild depression. Certain personality disorders, such as narcissism for example, can distort a person's view of themselves and their reality to such an extent tha! t they might break the law and get in trouble....Show more