Race-Gender Differences in Medicalization and Criminalization: The Consequences for Criminal Justice Involvement and Mental Health Treatment

Abstract

This dissertation is composed of three studies that examine race and gender biases in criminalization and medicalization. Paper I examines how the relationships between personality traits and the likelihood of arrest vary across race-gender statuses. Findings indicate that race-gender status influences the interpretation of personality traits as "deviant" or "normative," as personality does not equally predict arrest across all race gender statuses. Paper 2 explores whether race-gender status influences the likelihood of arrest and the likelihood of mental health treatment for those with mental illness. Findings indicate that certain groups, such as Black women, are more criminalized but less medicalized for their mental illness. Paper 3 evaluates the role of county demographics on the medicalization of criminal justice policy. I specifically examine the use of treatment court programs, which redirect individuals from traditional sentencing into mandated medical care, as evidence of medicalization. Findings show that the racial, gender, education, and political makeup of counties influence the prevalence of treatment court programs. Taken together, these three proposed studies contribute to the knowledge of how race and gender shape the criminalization and medicalization of deviant behavior.