Understanding Danger, Risk, and Vulnerability in Disability, Mental Health, and Criminal Justice Sys

Drawing on relevant theory, research evidence and policy and legal frameworks, critically evaluate the concepts of danger/risk and vulnerability/victimhood in relation to disability, mental health and the criminal justice system.Students will be given a broad question (see above) that relates to the module with which to begin the online discussion. �It is possible that discussion may move away from this topic as new themes are introduced during the online debate. �Students must use academic and policy material in their online entries, but may also upload appropriate web links and video or audio clips.

• Students are expected to demonstrate critical engagement with the topic under discussion by drawing on theoretical material, secondary research, policy documents, legislative frameworks and topical debate.
• Students are expected to engage with and evaluate the issues raised by other students� postings in order to take part in the discussion and develop a high quality peer-led debate.
• The lecturers will read the postings during the period of the assessment, but will not normally intervene in the discussion.
• The online debate will commence and close as stated in submission date section.
• Postings made outside this time frame may be disregarded for the purposes of the assessment.
• The starting point for the online debate is in bold above.

Instructions to students

• You must reference all material used in each online entry and include a reference list for each online entry
• Each of your three online entries must be 1000 words (+/-10%) excluding your reference list
• State word length for each of your online entries
• You are advised to write and save each online entry as a Word document before pasting it into the online discussion area on LSST Connect. �If you experience any technical difficulties, email your lecturer immediately providing a screenshot of the issues being faced.

Learning outcomes

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

• Critically evaluate a conceptual understanding of �vulnerability� in relation to disability and mental health/illness within the criminal justice system
• Critically evaluate the conceptualisation of danger and risk in relation to disability and mental health/illness within the criminal justice system
• Critically evaluate the relevant legislative and policy frameworks and good practice guidance
• Critically evaluate the construction of victimhood in relationship to disability and mental health/illness

Referencing and research requirements

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style as defined in Cite Them Right Online (http://www.citethemrightonline.com). This information is also available in book form: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2016) Cite them right: the essential reference guide. 10th edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Copies are available via the university library.

How your work will be assessed

Your work will be assessed on the extent to which it demonstrates your achievement of the stated learning outcomes for this assignment (see above), and will also be assessed against the following criteria:

• Introduction, progression of argument, conclusion
• Knowledge and understanding of and ability to apply theoretical concepts, research evidence and policy issues to the online debate
• Breadth and quality of gathered evidence & research evidence
• Ability to engage with discussion in order to contribute to the online debate
• Each online entry must be referenced in appropriate detail; referencing must be accurate throughout and a reference list included for each online entry

Submission details

• This assignment needs to be submitted first via Turnitin on LSST Connect and then into the activity forum. This will allow you and your lecturers to view your Similarity Index prior to submission.
• This assignment should be submitted electronically. Please use the relevant Turnitin submission point in the Submit your work area in your LSST Connect submission point, for each of your blogs.
• You must then post each blog into the blog space on LSST Connect as per instructions given.

Please ensure that your work has been saved in an appropriate file format. Turnitin will only accept the following file types: Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint, PostScript, PDF, HTML, RTF, OpenOffice (ODT), Hangul (HWP), Google Docs, or plain text. Your file must also contain at least 20 words of text, consist of fewer than 400 pages and be less than 40MB in size.

You can submit your work onto TurnItIn as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.

Once you have submitted your work onto TurnItIn, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your forwarded e-mail address (provided you have set this up). Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment.

The concepts of danger, risk, and vulnerability are critical when it comes to understanding and addressing issues related to disability, mental health, and the criminal justice system. Each of these concepts has unique implications for the individuals involved, and they must be carefully considered in any analysis of these issues.

Danger is often associated with criminal behavior and refers to the potential harm that an individual may cause to others. However, when discussing danger in the context of disability and mental health, it is important to recognize that people with disabilities or mental health conditions are not inherently dangerous. In fact, research has shown that individuals with mental health conditions are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

Risk, on the other hand, refers to the likelihood that an individual will engage in harmful behavior. Risk assessment is often used in the criminal justice system to identify individuals who may pose a threat to society. However, risk assessment tools have been criticized for perpetuating biases against individuals with mental health conditions and disabilities, leading to over-representation in the criminal justice system.

Vulnerability refers to an individual's susceptibility to harm, often due to their physical, emotional, or social circumstances. Individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions are often more vulnerable to harm due to the stigma and discrimination they face, as well as their limited access to resources and support. In the criminal justice system, individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions are at a higher risk of experiencing abuse and neglect.

In summary, the concepts of danger, risk, and vulnerability are essential in understanding disability, mental health, and the criminal justice system. It is critical to recognize that individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions are not inherently dangerous and that risk assessment tools can perpetuate biases. Additionally, individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions are often more vulnerable to harm and abuse, and addressing these vulnerabilities must be a priority in any efforts to improve these systems.