This high-stakes assignment will examine the relationship between mental illness and violent crime. You should be able to apply some of the theories of crime causation from earlier in the course to this topic.

Prepare a 6-8 page report in Microsoft Word that addresses these points:

PART I

Identify and discuss the specific causes of mental issues that can lead one to criminal behavior. Consider biological, social, and familial influences.

PART II

Case Study

Research and analyze one of the following mass shootings from recent American history:

• Jared Loughner, Tucson, Arizona, 2011
• Virginia Tech University, 2007
• Pulse nightclub, Orlando, Florida, 2016
• Sandy Hook elementary, 2012
• Fort Hood military base, 2009

For your selected case study, address these questions:

• Based on what you know about the shooter, what was he attempting to accomplish? Did he have a mission behind his crime?
• Analyze and discuss the shooter’s mental condition at the time of the shooting. Keep in mind that there may be reliable information available on this subject, including letters or other messages created by the shooter himself.
• Evaluate the response by law enforcement as the incident took place. Was it possible to produce a better outcome?
• Last, offer a well-reasoned policy that seeks to reconcile mental health with gun ownership. Keeping in mind Constitutional guarantees and Supreme Court decisions such as Chicago v. McDonald and Heller v. District of Columbia, how might lawmakers legally restrict gun ownership among those with mental issues? Be specific.

Make certain that you support your analysis with proper reasoning.

Answer preview

Mental illnesses are conditions that attack and affect a person’s brain causing them to do different things from a normal person. People with such illnesses require medical attention because some of the conditions are treatable. Crime, on the other hand, involves the indulging or the involvement of a person in doing illegal activities which are against the law of nature or of a given country. Many people who are involved in crime according to statistics usually have some mental deficiencies that make them conduct illegal activities. This does not mean that all criminals suffer from mental illnesses or all people with mental illnesses are criminals (Hagan, & Daigle, 2018). Unless proved by a clinician judges mostly are not in a position to declare a person guilty and can request a mental check for them before conviction. Several factors cause mental illnesses or issues that can lead to criminal behavior. These range from those of the biological factors, social factors, and familial influences.

Biological Causes

Biological compositions of a person’s…