Was Your Rage Induced by Mental Illness?

Various types of mental illness are often linked to impulsive, aggressive behaviors that result in violence and criminal actions.

Is Rage Caused by Mental Illness?

Mental illness is often linked to violence and criminal behaviors by the public and the media, but behavioral health and research studies are much less conclusive. Although some violent behaviors are linked to anger disorders, PTSD, and borderline personality disorders, there is little evidence that rage is a mental health issue.

Only three to five percent of violent acts are linked to mental illness. The majority of violent behaviors that result in crimes including theft, battery, assault, and rape do not include gun violence or deadly actions. In cases of mass shootings, research shows that less than 15 percent of perpetrators are diagnosed as psychotic or mentally ill.

Crime statistics show that people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of criminal acts rather than perpetrators. Research indicates that people who are mentally ill have higher rates of unemployment, physical and mental abuse, alcohol or drug dependency, and parents or family members who have criminal records.

Gun Violence and Mass Shootings

Although mental illness is not conclusively linked to violent actions, hostility and anger are major factors. Psychiatrists at Oxford University compared studies of impulsive, angry personalities to the general population and found that hostile, angry individuals have significant risks for violent tendencies. History shows that people with violent tendencies commonly have hostile or antisocial behaviors. Most violent tendencies start with school fights, verbal threats, and destruction of property, then progress to acts of violence with deadly force.

America’s most well-known mass shooters are angry, young men who regularly displayed hostile, antisocial behaviors before they carried out their deadly attacks. Many were previously identified as a potential threat by family members, friends, co-workers, or classmates. In most cases, anger, hostility, and antisocial behaviors stood out as significant risk factors.

In a recent study published in Preventive Medicine, the link between mental illness and gun violence is examined. The results indicate that gun violence is tied more to gun access than mental illness. The study shows that people with easy access to guns are 18 times more likely to threaten or assault someone with a gun. To reduce gun violence, federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from purchasing guns. In some states, even individuals with certain misdemeanor convictions are prohibited from purchasing firearms.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.