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Dr Marozane Spamers, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | ������Ƶapp���� (UC), edited and co-wrote the book with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines including law, criminal justice, psychology, political science, and Māori and Indigenous studies.��

The ground-breaking publication will support a new Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Criminal Justice course, “Mental health and criminal justice”, being offered at UC from Semester 2 this year. The course is open to third year and postgraduate students from a range of pathways including, criminal justice, psychology and law.

In an endorsement of the book, UC Director of Criminal Justice, the late Professor Helen Farley says: “Mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand’s criminal justice system is a crisis hiding in plain sight – and this book lays it bare.”��

Early chapters contextualise the intersection between mental health and criminal justice and contrast a Western history of mental health treatment in the criminal justice system with a Māori perspective. Criminological theories of crime, the philosophy of punishment and human rights considerations are also covered.��

Subsequent chapters examine responses to mental health in specific areas of the criminal justice system: police, the criminal trial process, criminal law, expert evidence and prisons.��

The mental health of victims and criminal justice professionals is also investigated.��

Outside an academic context, Dr Spamers believes this comprehensive book constitutes a valuable resource for individuals and agencies working at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice: lawyers, policy makers, forensic experts, corrections, police, victim advocacy and citizens advice services, and mental health services.��

“My vision is that if professionals working in criminal justice settings have a deep understanding of the wide-ranging impacts of mental health concerns, that will lead to better policy making and implementation. I also believe that if criminal justice professionals become better at recognising, responding to and appropriately supporting or diverting people with mental health concerns, that will lead to better outcomes for both offenders and victims of crime.”

Cultural responsiveness is another major focus for the book. A chapter co-written with lecturer Jessica Maclean from the Aotahi School of Māori and Indigenous Studies emphasises the need for culturally competent practice and gives context for subsequent material examining the inequities and biases that can occur in the criminal justice system, not only for Māori, but for other communities in Aotearoa.

“We wanted to emphasise that if we privilege a Western model in criminal justice, law, policy making, and mental health diagnosis, that can result in real inequities for the different cultures living in New Zealand.”��

Published by Canterbury University Press, the book is now available as an open access digital edition supported by funding from .��

Dr Spamers hopes the accessibility of this free digital model will also assist lay people navigating the criminal justice system.

“While there is quite complex theory in the book, we’ve really tried to write it in clear language that’s easy to understand. I’m pleased that it can be downloaded by anyone, whether they are students, criminal justice professionals, the victims of crime, or the family and whānau of someone charged with a crime.”��

Mental Health and Criminal Justice: A New ������Ƶapp����guide is co-written by Dr Bethany Growns,  Jessica Niurangi Maclean,  Associate Professor James Mehigan,  Dr Linda Mussell,  Professor Robin Palmer, Dr Jayson Ware and  Professor Debra Wilson.

It can be downloaded from the UC Research Repository via the Canterbury University Press website, A4 format, 270pp, ISBN 978-1-98-850348-6. A hard copy will be available later in the year.