September 10, 2021
The Council of State Governments recently published a brief titled Addressing Misconceptions about Mental Health and Violence. This brief discusses the misconceptions that can lead to a perception that people with mental illness are more likely to be violent. Through understanding and dispelling these misconceptions, criminal justice professionals can further their goals of protecting public safety. This brief addresses these misconceptions, provides information on known risk factors for violence, and offers ways that criminal justice professional can address these risk factors.