Police Interactions with the Mentally Ill: The Role of Procedural Justice

Abstract

Police encounters with mentally ill individuals that involve the use of force by police are relatively infrequent, but sometimes quite volatile. This article discusses the use of procedural justice theory in understanding the quality and consequences of such interactions. Procedural justice theory and its specific application to the police who interact with mentally ill persons are discussed as a promising approach in improving police-citizen interactions. This paper provides an empirical basis for understanding the need for evidence-based police policy and practices when dealing with the mentally ill.