criminal justice

1. Running Head: CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS 1
Criminal Behavior among the Homeless Individuals
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2. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS 2
Criminal Behavior among the Mentally Ill Homeless Individuals
Nooe, R. M., & Patterson, D. A. (2010). The ecology of homelessness. Journal of Human
Behavior in the Social Environment, 20(2), 105-152.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10911350903269757
The article gives the ecological model of homelessness and the factors that they are prone
to. Such risk factors are biologically and related environmental issues. Structurally, the homeless
people are poor, unemployed and they receive less than the minimum wage. Resultantly, they
lose their public benefits. The housing costs are high thus family housing is unstable. If the
homeless are not in the streets, they are deinstitutionalized. Moreover, many of them are
discriminated. Resultantly, they result in conflict and violence. Mentally ill persons are
approximately 16% to 33% among the homeless people. About 35% of the homeless people
wander aimlessly. Resultantly, they become drug addicts and are at high risk of facing the
criminal justice. People become homeless because of domestic violence especially women and
children. While outside there they continue being sexually and physically abused. Approximately
61% and 19% of girls and boys respectively have experienced sexual abuse. Consequentially,
they become prone to habitual substance use. 75% of the homeless person has abused drugs in
their lives. In the process, they are caught up in the law and are convicted.
Roy, L., Crocker, A. G., Nicholls, T. L., Latimer, E. A., & Ayllon, A. R. (2014). Criminal
behavior and victimization among homeless individuals with severe mental illness: a
systematic review. Psychiatric services, 65(6), 739-750.
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201200515
The research correlates criminal behavior with the criminal justice system, more so the
victimization of the homeless people with mental illness. Approximately 20-50% of the
homeless people have mental problems which are associated with the shortage of housing, the
criminal justice system, and substance abuse. Either way, mentally disturbed people are
perpetrators or victims of crime. However, some mentally ill individuals are housed by their
relatives, or they are housed. The study used a (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic
Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to ensure that the research is conducted transparently.
Besides, the inclusion criteria in the study are all individuals above 18 years, and they have at
least one mental disorder. It also includes secondary research through analysis of previously
done research. The study reveals that 63.95-90% of the homeless persons with mental illness
have once been arrested. 28.1%-80% have been convicted while 48%-67% have been
incarcerated. Victimization is more prevalent in female and people who have a background
where they were victimized than men. More so, homeless women are more victimized than the
ones who are housed. Victimization rates are between 4.4%-35% while violent victimization is
between 7.7% and 28%.
Ran, M. S., Chen, P. Y., Liao, Z. G., Chan, C. L. W., Chen, E. Y. H., Tang, C. P., ... & Conwell,
Y. (2010). Criminal behavior among persons with schizophrenia in rural China.
Schizophrenia research, 122(1), 213-218. 10.1016/j.schres.2009.12.026
The study explores the prevalence, as well as risk factors for schizophrenia, reported
cases in rural China. There is a relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior.
Comparing the mentally ill persons and people of sound mind, the mentally ill have a higher

3. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AMONG HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS 3
violence rate and thus high conviction. The research is assessed on studies on the criminal
behavior of schizophrenic people at home and the homeless. The sample used in the study is 510
people of 15years and older. Out of the sample, only 95.9% of them were interviewed. Their
medical records were collected for the period 2004 to 2008. The deceased were classified
according to the cause of death. Also, there was the sourcing of their criminal records to assess
the criminal behavior such as physical and sexual assault, murder and arson. Out of the criminal
records, their behavior was divided into violent and non-violent. After the follow up only 67.1%
were alive, 4.9 committed suicide, 19.8 died in other courses, and 8.2 were homeless. Out of the
cohort, only 10% had criminal behavior, 2% were serving jail time while 8.2 were arrested.
Therefore, homelessness and mental illness contribute to the development of criminal behavior.
Ferguson, K. M., Bender, K., Thompson, S. J., Xie, B., & Pollio, D. (2012). Exploration of arrest
activity among homeless young adults in four US cities. Social Work Research, 36(3),
233-238.
The research compares who is more involved in criminal activities between the housed
young adults and the homeless. 20%-30% of American youth have been arrested where most of
them are the homes people. Approximately 150000 homeless people encounter the justice system
annually. The study is done on a sample size of 188 individuals of age 18-24 years from Denver,
New Orleans St. Luis, and Los Angeles. In the research, the dependent variable is if the
individuals in the sample ever have been arrested. On the other hand, the reason for the arrest
was the independent variable which includes theft, alcohol-related offenses, vandalism, forgery,
fighting, or processing drugs. Among the homeless people. 39.4% reported they had not been
arrested, 22.9%- mild arrest, 36.7 moderate arrests while 42.6 were severely arrested. Majority of
the men have used drugs as a survival mechanism but ended up being arrested. The findings
reveal that homeless young adults representing 60.6 percent have at one point been apprehended.
Comparing it with the average arrest rate which is 1.3%, the arrest of the homeless persons is
exceptionally high. It is an indication that the homeless persons are involved in criminal
activities thus they end up facing severe offenses.
Swendener, A. (2014). The effect of victimization, mental health, and protective factors on crime
and illicit drug use among homeless young adults. Violence and victims, 29(2), 348-362
doi: 10.1891/0886-6708
The study investigates victimization effects, mental health, crime protective factors as
well as illicit drug use in the homeless youth. Such individuals have a troubled childhood with
high-risk factors such as drug abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and mental health problems.
Homeless people are engaged in criminal offenses and violence such as stealing and drug
trafficking for survival, but they are at risk of victimization. Mostly, they wander in the street
thus putting them at a higher risk of engaging in violent activities. The research uses primary
data from a sample study of 199 young adults out of which 144 are homeless while 55 are
housed. Out of the 55, 28 of them are partially homeless because they end up running from their
homes due to child mistreatment such as sexual abuse. Almost all individuals have been
mishandled sexually. Majority of them had a mental disorder, and they represented 80% of the
population while 95% had post-traumatic stress disorder. Some of the preventive measures in
place include self-efficacy, increase the deviance levels especially on many of the vices and
increase religiosity.