Mental Illness and Crime: A Misconceived Relationship

This article examines the history of the study of crime and many of the primary criminological theories created from those efforts. It also explores social perceptions of mental illness and their correlations with crime, and endeavors to highlight misconceptions about how mental health disorders influence criminal behavior. In an attempt to ensure that the reader understands the progression of crime research leading up to studies on mental illness and criminal behavior, the “five schools of criminology” are included, along with the social structure and learning theories. The article concludes with a significant discussion on the history of mental illness and its intersection with crime.