Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2021

Policing, Mental Illness and Media

The Framing of Mental Health Crisis Encounters and Police Use of Force

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • Examines the complexities of the relationship between policing and mental health
  • Explores the conditions for the production of news media coverage
  • Appeals to students, scholars, and practitioners in journalism, media studies, policing, criminology, sociology, and mental health

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Crime, Media and Culture (PSCMC)

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
This title has not yet been released. You may pre-order it now and we will ship your order when it is published on 30 Mar 2021.
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
  2. Introduction

    • Katrina Clifford
    Pages 1-40
  3. The Thin Blue Line of Mental Health

    • Katrina Clifford
    Pages 41-85
  4. Case Study: The Paul Klein Incident

    • Katrina Clifford
    Pages 191-229
  5. Framing Effects and Changing Media Practices

    • Katrina Clifford
    Pages 231-270
  6. Conclusion

    • Katrina Clifford
    Pages 271-287
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 289-347

About this book

This book examines the complexities of the relationship between policing and mental health – in Australia especially – including the circumstances that lead to police use of force, and the ways in which news media typically report deaths resulting from police contact with people in mental health crisis. When a vulnerable member of society is killed by the police, it is only natural that questions are asked about the behaviour and actions of those involved. Police are, after all, meant to be the ‘protectors of society’. By virtue of these circumstances, fatal encounters between police and mentally ill individuals in crisis often attract heightened media and legal attention, as well as public debate. Drawing together research interviews and extensive case study analysis, the book explores the conditions for the production of this news media coverage, the ways in which it can shape public perceptions of police-involved mental health crisis interventions, and the potential impactson those involved in and affected by such events. The implications for police agencies are also considered in the context of how they respond to vulnerable people in the community, while being in the media spotlight. This book will appeal to students, scholars and practitioners in journalism, media studies, policing, criminology, sociology, and mental health as well as those interested in learning about the relationship between policing, mental illness, and media representation.


Reviews

“The publication of Policing, Mental Illness and Media is timely. … Nearly every chapter presents interviews, case studies and copious references for further investigation.” (Trevor Cullen, Australian Journalism Review, Vol. 43 (2), 2021)

Authors and Affiliations

  • School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia

    Katrina Clifford

About the author

Dr. Katrina Clifford is Senior Lecturer in Communication at Deakin University, Australia. She has also worked as a journalist, magazine editor and strategic communications consultant. Her previous publications include Media and Crime: Content, Context and Consequence (co-authored with Rob White, OUP 2017).

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
This title has not yet been released. You may pre-order it now and we will ship your order when it is published on 30 Mar 2021.
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access