Police Use of Force in Mental Health Crises: An Analysis of Coronial Inquest Findings from Australia
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Australian Catholic University
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Australian Catholic University Australia
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Queensland University of Technology Australia
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Australian Catholic University Australia
Abstract
Police are frequently the initial responders to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These situations sometimes escalate to the point where police resort to the use of force, resulting at times in injury and, less often, loss of life. This study draws on data from coronial inquest reports of cases involving police use of fatal force against persons with mental illness from one Australian jurisdiction. It examines the contextual factors leading up to these incidents, the personal backgrounds and mental health histories of the individuals in crisis, and the tactical approaches employed by police leading to the use of deadly force. Understanding these insights is crucial as they can potentially guide efforts to reform police practices in dealing with individuals in mental health crises and ultimately may help to prevent fatal outcomes.
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Author Biographies
Shannon Dodd is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the Thomas More Law School at Australian Catholic University. Her research primarily explores issues in Australia’s correctional systems, including the use of technology like body-worn cameras by correctional officers, people with disability in prisons, and the increasingly punitive trajectory being taken in Australia with respect to individuals on bail and parole.
Matthew Morgan is a Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice in the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University (ACU). Matthew’s teaching and research interests include policing vulnerable and diverse populations with a particular focus on how police interact with people with mental illness. He has worked with police organisations in the UK and in Australia to inform best practice for when police interact with people suffering mental health crises in the community.
Bridget Weir is a criminology lecturer and researcher at the School of Justice at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Her research primarily explores sexual offending, including issues related to institutional abuse, the reintegration of sexual offenders, and redress. Additionally, Bridget has published work on topics such as suicide in Queensland, suicide prevention, and death determinations.
Jordie Bowyer is a Research Assistant who has completed projects at Thomas More Law School at Australian Catholic University and the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education, and Social Justice at Queensland University of Technology. Her research interests include domestic, family, and sexual violence; trauma-informed practices; and Intersectional justice.