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Interviewing persons with mental illness: a retrospective review of police interviews

Interviewing persons with mental illness: a retrospective review of police interviews

Individuals with a mental illness may be particularly vulnerable during police interviews. Assessing fitness for police interview is vital for ensuring procedural fairness. This retrospective study was of a sample of individuals with mental illness found not criminally responsible for serious violent offences in Queensland, Australia. The study aimed to:

  1. estimate the prevalence of symptoms of mental illness during a police interview among those subsequently found not criminally responsible by reason of insanity (a defence called unsound of mind, USM, in Queensland); and
  2. describe the specific police practices that were initiated to respond to the needs of people with symptoms of mental illness during a police interview.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands in which QCMHR operates and their continuing connections to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and stand together with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.