Elizabeth Perkins

Crimsoc 5 Elizabeth Perkins

Many aspects of daily life have become medicalised these days. The latest revision of the predominant psychiatric classification system, DSM-V, has generated significant controversy amongst professionals, sociological thinkers, and service users because of the way in which new specific diagnoses have been added. One of the major debates has been around diagnosing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, irrespective of whether the disruptive behaviour associated with a diagnosis of ADHD is a manifestation of mental disorder or not, it is a common feature amongst youth and adult offender populations. Recognition of this association between a set of behaviours and certain outcomes, together with application of the medicalization concept, has led to the development worldwide of youth justice diversion programmes which aim to identify young people who have come to the attention of the police but whose problems are considered to be mental health vulnerabilities rather than moral deficiencies requiring punishment and/or rehabilitation.