Mental health is an urgent and growing concern within
the criminal justice system. The high prevalence of mental health concerns among those interacting with the criminal justice system highlights the importance of developing and implementing evidence-based, informed and culturally competent mental health-related policy.
This is the first book in Aotearoa New Zealand that
focuses on mental health policy and law at different stages of the criminal justice process. Bridging academic insight and practical application, the book takes a critical, rights-based and multidisciplinary approach, engaging with law, criminology, psychology and political science to explore the realities of how mental health intersects with justice in policy, practice and lived experience.
The book is aimed at third year and postgraduate
students and will appeal to students of criminal justice, law, sociology, criminology, psychology and psychiatry.
It will also be a valuable resource for people working in the mental health and criminal justice space, including lawyers, policy makers, forensic experts, corrections, police, victim advocacy services, citizens advice, mental health services and other related parties or organisations – as well as anyone navigating the criminal justice system.
“Mental health touches every corner of New Zealand’s
criminal justice system – from those accused or convicted of crime, to the victims and families affected, to the professionals working within it. This book constitutes a timely and essential resource for understanding these complex intersections.”
—Helen Farley, Director of Criminal Justice, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha