The role of the police in adopting the type of response to people with mental illness in the framework of the criminal justice system

At the same time as the economic changes of the societies and the increase of social abnormality, followed by the increase of mental illnesses, the police have become the frontline specialists who manage these people in times of crisis. This article examines and comments on the issues raised around this phenomenon; Because it affects both police forces and mental health systems. Two basic principles provide this logic for the police to take responsibility for people with mental illnesses: one is their power and authority to protect the safety and well-being of society, and the other is their inherent obligations to protect mentally ill people.

This research is practical and has investigated the role of the police in respecting the rights of the mentally ill with a descriptive-analytical method and the tool of library information collection.

The police often play the role of gatekeepers in deciding whether a person suffering from a mental illness who has come to their attention should enter the mental health system or the criminal justice system. This article describes the types of mobile crisis teams that are composed of police, mental health professionals, or both. The need to train police officers in diagnosing mental illnesses and knowing how to access mental health resources is emphasized. Cooperation between the police organization and the mental health system is very important and the different areas of expertise of each should be known and introduced and should not cause confusion.