Dispositional Decisions with the Mentally Ill: Police Perceptions and Characteristics

Abstract

This study was designed to explore police decision making in arresting or committing mentally ill individuals; it has a special focus on racial bias. Ninety-two officers from a medium-sized police department completed a questionnaire about attitudes toward working with mentally ill individuals and responded to a vignette by indicating a dispositional decision. Results highlighted the officers’frustration in handling mentally ill offenders and the lack of coordination in effort between police and mental health professionals. Race was not a major factor in dispositional decision making, but a racial bias was found in commitment decisions, with Caucasian suspects being more likely to be involuntarily hospitalized.