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Legal narratives as significant news sources about mental illness and violent crime

Wondemaghen, Meron

Authors



Abstract

Media coverage about people affected by mental illness is an area of research that is extensively examined. Many scholars argue that the media depicts people with mental illness as inherently violent and dangerous within sensational narratives. These depictions are criticized for reinforcing the social stigma and disadvantages many of the mentally ill face. The media does, however, require news sources and, in the context of crime and mental illness, the courts are a significant source. Through qualitative content analysis of Australian newspaper articles, this research examines an under-researched and incompletely theorized area. In doing so, it demonstrates that media depictions of some mentally ill offenders reflect and heavily draw upon legal narratives and what is argued in court about these offenders in the context of criminal responsibility and legal insanity. © 2013 School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University.

Citation

Wondemaghen, M. (2014). Legal narratives as significant news sources about mental illness and violent crime. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 38(4), 343-372. https://doi.org/10.1080/01924036.2013.848219

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 1, 2013
Online Publication Date Oct 18, 2013
Publication Date 2014
Deposit Date Sep 9, 2022
Journal International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice
Print ISSN 0192-4036
Electronic ISSN 2157-6475
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 38
Issue 4
Pages 343-372
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01924036.2013.848219
Keywords Mental illness; Violence; Crime; Media; Courts
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4056786