Skip to main content

A qualitative study of police interactions as perceived by people living with mental disorder

Resource type
Thesis type
(Thesis) M.A.
Date created
2014-01-17
Authors/Contributors
Abstract
Police officers are often the first responders to individuals in crises. Understanding the dynamic interaction between police and persons living with mental illness is critical to developing interventions and appropriate services for this population. Using procedural justice theory, this study involves a qualitative thematic analysis of interviews conducted with 60 people living with mental illness regarding their interactions with police officers. The results indicate that common factors influence how the experience is evaluated and contributes to individual perceptions of police. These include experiences of stigma, having a voice, respect, compassion, and the use of violence. Participants identify mental health education as an important element of police training while also emphasizing the need for increased collaboration between police and health authorities. This study finds support for procedural justice theory insofar as the way that the participants were treated aside from the outcome, mattered in their overall perception of police legitimacy.
Document
Identifier
etd8239
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Permissions
The author granted permission for the file to be printed, but not for the text to be copied and pasted.
Scholarly level
Supervisor or Senior Supervisor
Thesis advisor: Verdun-Jones, Simon
Member of collection
Download file Size
etd8239_AButler.pdf 2.07 MB

Views & downloads - as of June 2023

Views: 162
Downloads: 11