Introduction
The overarching topic of this research is public opinion surrounding
the criminal justice system. Specifically, the research focuses on the
public’s faith in the system and overall perception of the efficacy of
the system. Additionally, the research investigates public opinion on
rehabilitative programs and incarceration/recidivism reduction
initiatives, as well as how opinion on crime, mental health, and
substance abuse vary by subject matter (local vs national, ‘criminal’ vs
‘non-criminal’).
This research could be relevant to politicians and policymakers
interested in the nature of public opinion regarding the criminal
justice. Information within this research could help these professionals
gauge support for new crime bills and policy proposals related to the
justice system and rehabilitative initiatives.
Data
Gallup: Confidence in
Institutions
Gallup performs the “Gallup Poll Social Series (GPSS)”, which looks
at long-term trends on key social topics in the United States. The
interviews are performed on U.S. adults (18+) via telephone (landline
and cellphone) across all states. To perform this survey, Gallup
purchases data on U.S. phone numbers and uses a “random-digit-dial”
method to select its samples. Sample size is set to at least 1,000 per
year per subject. Sampling for the Crime GPSS survey is performed every
October. “Gallup weights samples to correct for unequal selection
probability, nonresponse, and double coverage of landline and cellphone
users in the two sampling frames. Gallup also weights its final samples
to match the U.S. population according to gender, age, race, Hispanic
ethnicity, education, region, population density, and phone status
(cellphone only, landline only, both, and cellphone mostly).” Source
Gallup News Service performed a survey in 2020 on 1,226 US adults via
telephone. The survey asked respondents how much confidence they have in
each of the listed institutions in American society (including Supreme
Court, public schools, television news, banks, etc.). The two
institutions from the survey that I plan to look at are police and the
criminal justice system. The survey used a likert scale to gauge
confidence (great deal, quite a lot, some, very little, no opinion).
“Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American
society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each
one – a great deal, quite a lot, some or very little? The criminal
justice system”
Table 1: Level of Confidence in the Criminal Justice System
|
Year
|
Great Deal (%)
|
Quite a Lot (%)
|
Some (%)
|
Very Little (%)
|
No Opinion (%)
|
Declined Response (%)
|
|
2021
|
7
|
13
|
38
|
39
|
<0.5
|
3
|
|
2020
|
10
|
14
|
40
|
33
|
<0.5
|
3
|
|
2019
|
10
|
14
|
40
|
34
|
1
|
2
|
|
2018
|
9
|
13
|
41
|
34
|
1
|
2
|
|
2017
|
14
|
13
|
37
|
32
|
1
|
2
|
|
2016
|
9
|
14
|
40
|
34
|
<0.5
|
2
|
|
2015
|
9
|
14
|
42
|
31
|
1
|
3
|
|
2014
|
10
|
13
|
40
|
32
|
1
|
4
|
|
2013
|
10
|
18
|
40
|
30
|
1
|
2
|
|
2012
|
11
|
18
|
41
|
26
|
1
|
3
|
|
2011
|
13
|
15
|
42
|
27
|
1
|
2
|
|
2010
|
9
|
18
|
44
|
24
|
1
|
3
|
|
2009
|
11
|
17
|
44
|
25
|
1
|
2
|
|
2008
|
8
|
12
|
44
|
32
|
2
|
2
|
|
2007
|
7
|
12
|
44
|
33
|
1
|
2
|
|
2006
|
9
|
16
|
43
|
28
|
1
|
3
|
|
2005
|
9
|
17
|
45
|
26
|
1
|
2
|
|
2004
|
10
|
24
|
42
|
22
|
1
|
1
|
|
2003
|
10
|
19
|
45
|
25
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2002
|
9
|
18
|
46
|
24
|
1
|
2
|
|
2000
|
8
|
16
|
42
|
30
|
1
|
3
|
|
1999
|
8
|
15
|
40
|
34
|
<0.5
|
3
|
|
1998
|
9
|
15
|
40
|
32
|
1
|
3
|
|
1997
|
8
|
11
|
40
|
35
|
1
|
5
|
|
1996
|
6
|
13
|
38
|
38
|
1
|
4
|
|
1995
|
9
|
11
|
37
|
37
|
1
|
5
|
|
1994
|
6
|
9
|
35
|
44
|
1
|
5
|
|
1993
|
6
|
11
|
38
|
39
|
2
|
4
|
“Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American
society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each
one – a great deal, quite a lot, some or very little? The police”
Table 2: Level of Confidence in the Police
|
Year
|
Great Deal (%)
|
Quite a Lot (%)
|
Some (%)
|
Very Little (%)
|
No Opinion (%)
|
Declined Response (%)
|
|
2021
|
26
|
25
|
32
|
16
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2020
|
23
|
25
|
33
|
17
|
<0.5
|
2
|
|
2019
|
29
|
24
|
31
|
16
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2018
|
29
|
25
|
31
|
14
|
1
|
1
|
|
2017
|
31
|
26
|
28
|
14
|
1
|
1
|
|
2016
|
25
|
31
|
29
|
13
|
1
|
1
|
|
2015
|
25
|
27
|
30
|
16
|
1
|
2
|
|
2014
|
25
|
28
|
31
|
14
|
<0.5
|
2
|
|
2013
|
26
|
31
|
30
|
12
|
1
|
1
|
|
2012
|
26
|
30
|
28
|
15
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2011
|
25
|
31
|
30
|
11
|
<0.5
|
2
|
|
2010
|
26
|
33
|
27
|
12
|
1
|
1
|
|
2009
|
28
|
31
|
29
|
10
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2008
|
28
|
30
|
30
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
|
2007
|
23
|
31
|
33
|
12
|
1
|
1
|
|
2006
|
25
|
33
|
29
|
10
|
1
|
2
|
|
2005
|
28
|
35
|
29
|
7
|
–
|
1
|
|
2004
|
24
|
40
|
26
|
10
|
<0.5
|
|
|
2003
|
29
|
32
|
29
|
9
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2002
|
28
|
31
|
31
|
9
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2001
|
26
|
31
|
31
|
11
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
2000
|
18
|
36
|
33
|
10
|
1
|
2
|
|
1999
|
24
|
33
|
33
|
10
|
1
|
|
|
1998
|
26
|
32
|
30
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
|
1997
|
27
|
32
|
30
|
10
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
1996
|
22
|
38
|
28
|
11
|
<0.5
|
1
|
|
1995
|
26
|
32
|
30
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
|
1994
|
22
|
32
|
33
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
|
1993
|
22
|
30
|
35
|
11
|
1
|
1
|
Gallup: Opinions on Crime
and Justice
Question: “In general, do you think the criminal justice system in
this country is too tough, not tough enough or about right in its
handling of crime?”
Table 3: Opinion on the Toughness of the Criminal Justice
System
|
Year
|
Too Tough (%)
|
Not Tough Enough (%)
|
About Right (%)
|
No Opinion (%)
|
|
2020
|
21
|
41
|
35
|
3
|
|
2016
|
14
|
45
|
35
|
6
|
|
2003
|
6
|
65
|
26
|
3
|
|
2000
|
3
|
70
|
22
|
5
|
|
1992
|
2
|
83
|
12
|
3
|
Gallup: Approaches to
Lowering Crime Rates
Question: “Which of the following approaches to lowering the crime
rate in the United States comes closer to your own view – do you think
[ROTATED: more money and effort should go to attacking the social and
economic problems that lead to crime through better education and job
training (or) more money and effort should go to deterring crime by
improving law enforcement with more prisons, police and judges]?”
Table 4: Approaches to Lowering Crime Rate
|
Year
|
Attack Social Problems (%)
|
More Law Enforcement (%)
|
No Opinion (%)
|
|
2020
|
63
|
34
|
2
|
|
2010
|
64
|
32
|
4
|
|
2006
|
65
|
31
|
4
|
|
2003
|
69
|
29
|
2
|
|
2000
|
68
|
27
|
5
|
|
1994
|
51
|
42
|
7
|
|
1992
|
67
|
25
|
8
|
|
1990
|
57
|
36
|
2
|
ACLU: Campaign
for Smart Justice National Survey
This survey was conducted with Benenson Strategy Group in October
2017 on a random sample of 1,000 U.S. adults.
|
Would you say that the criminal justice system in the United States….
|
Percentage
|
|
Has serious problems that need to be addressed immediately
|
55
|
|
Has some problems that need to be addressed eventually
|
36
|
|
Is working well
|
7
|
|
Don’t know
|
1
|
|
In your opinion, how important is it to reduce the number of people who
are in prison in America today?
|
Percentage
|
|
Very important
|
38
|
|
Somewhat important
|
33
|
|
Not very important
|
9
|
|
Not important at all
|
16
|
|
Don’t know
|
4
|
|
In your view, would making reforms that reduce the prison population…
|
Percentage
|
|
Harm communities because people who belong behind bars will be let out
|
34
|
|
Help communities by saving taxpayer dollars that can be reinvested into
preventing crime and rehabilitating people convicted of crimes
|
59
|
|
Don’t Know
|
7
|
|
If you knew that making reforms that reduce the prison population would
mean shortening prison sentences for certain people convicted of crimes,
do you think it would…
|
Percentage
|
|
Harm communities because people who belong behind bars will be let out
|
39
|
|
Help communities by saving taxpayer dollars that can be reinvested into
preventing crime and rehabilitating people convicted of crimes
|
51
|
|
Don’t Know
|
10
|
|
If you knew that making reforms that reduce the prison population would
mean sending some people convicted of crimes to rehabilitation programs
to help them cope with mental illness or addictions instead of sending
them to prisons, do you think it would…
|
Percentage
|
|
Harm communities because people who belong behind bars will be let out
|
23
|
|
Help communities by saving taxpayer dollars that can be reinvested into
preventing crime and rehabilitating people convicted of crimes
|
73
|
|
Don’t Know
|
4
|
|
Which statement do you agree with more?
|
Percentage
|
|
Some people say people who have committed serious crimes are unlikely to
change and will almost always be a danger to society.
|
32
|
|
Other people say people who have committed serious crimes can turn their
lives around and live productive responsible lives with the right kind
of help.
|
62
|
|
Don’t Know
|
6
|
|
Which statement do you agree with more?
|
Percentage
|
|
Some people say people who have committed violent crimes are unlikely to
change and will almost always be a danger to society.
|
35
|
|
Other people say people who have committed violent crimes can turn their
lives around and live productive responsible lives with the right kind
of help.
|
61
|
|
Don’t Know
|
4
|
|
Which of the following would do more to prevent people convicted of
crimes from committing further offenses once they’re released from
prison?
|
Percentage
|
|
Making prison as hard and unpleasant as possible so they are afraid of
going back
|
25
|
|
Providing rehabilitation services and training so they can re-enter
society and be productive citizens
|
72
|
|
Don’t Know
|
3
|
Table 5: ACLU: Attitudes Toward Various Topics of the
Criminal Justice System
|
Question
|
Strongly Agree (%)
|
Somewhat Agree (%)
|
Somewhat Disagree (%)
|
Strongly Disagree (%)
|
Dont Know (%)
|
|
Q20. People with mental health disabilities don’t belong in prison, they
belong in mental health programs where they can get the treatment they
need from professionals. (n=332)
|
65
|
19
|
9
|
4
|
4
|
|
Q21. Even if people with mental health disabilities commit serious
crimes, communities will be safer if they’re sent to mental health
programs where they can get the treatment they need from professionals.
(n=339)
|
59
|
30
|
2
|
6
|
2
|
|
Q22. Even if people with mental health disabilities commit crimes that
involve violence, communities will be safer if they’re sent to mental
health programs where they can get the treatment they need from
professionals. (n=332)
|
47
|
40
|
9
|
4
|
0
|
|
Q17. People with drug addictions don’t belong in prison, they should be
in rehabilitation programs where they can recover from their addiction.
(n=233)
|
49
|
27
|
11
|
11
|
2
|
|
Q16. People with drug addictions don’t belong in prison, they should be
in rehabilitation programs where they can get the treatment they need
and recover from their addiction. (n=263)
|
49
|
25
|
12
|
12
|
2
|
|
Q19. Even if people with drug addictions have committed serious crimes,
communities will be safer if they’re sent to drug rehabilitation
programs where they can get the treatment they need and recover from
their addiction. (n=258)
|
37
|
44
|
13
|
5
|
1
|
|
Q18. Even if they’ve committed serious crimes, people with drug
addictions don’t belong in prison, they should be in rehabilitation
programs where they can get the treatment they need and recover from
their addiction. (n=249)
|
36
|
25
|
17
|
21
|
2
|
|
Q29. Sending people with drug addictions to prison for a long sentence,
instead of drug rehab, can make a community less safe because we’re not
addressing the root cause of their crime and they’re hardened by the
experience and come out likely to commit more serious crimes. (n=258)
|
45
|
30
|
15
|
9
|
2
|
|
Q26. Sending someone to prison for a long sentence increases the chances
that he or she will commit another crime when they get out, because
prison doesn’t do a good job of rehabilitating problems like drug
addiction and mental illness. (n=263)
|
40
|
31
|
14
|
10
|
4
|
|
Q28. Sending people to prison for a long sentence can make a community
less safe because people are hardened by the experience. (n=249)
|
15
|
36
|
27
|
20
|
3
|
|
Q27. Sending someone to prison for a long sentence increases the chances
that he or she will commit another crime when they get out, because
they’re likely to be hardened by the experience and come out likely to
commit more serious crimes. (n=233)
|
17
|
24
|
33
|
18
|
8
|
|
Q30. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and criminal justice resources to
keep people locked up who no longer pose a threat to public safety.
(n=263)
|
44
|
35
|
9
|
10
|
2
|
|
Q33. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and criminal justice resources to
keep people locked up who have taken responsibility for their behavior,
rehabilitated themselves and could be playing a productive role in
communities. (n=258)
|
35
|
40
|
18
|
7
|
1
|
|
Q31. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and criminal justice resources to
keep people locked up who are older and no longer pose a threat to
public safety. (n=233)
|
25
|
32
|
24
|
17
|
2
|
|
Q32. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars and criminal justice resources to
keep people locked up who have grown out of the age when they’re most
likely to commit crimes and no longer pose a threat to public safety.
(n=249)
|
17
|
44
|
20
|
13
|
7
|
|
Q24. People of color are incarcerated at higher rates than white
Americans because of racism in policing, prosecution, and sentencing.
(n=249)
|
35
|
19
|
11
|
31
|
3
|
|
Q25. People of color are incarcerated at higher rates than white
Americans because of bias in policing, prosecution, and sentencing.
(n=258)
|
31
|
22
|
20
|
25
|
3
|
|
Q23. Black people are treated fairly by the criminal justice system.
(n=233)
|
16
|
18
|
25
|
37
|
4
|
|
Q34. Our criminal justice system needs to be rooted in our values and
our faith and preserve the principle that no one is beyond the
possibility of repentance, forgiveness, and redemption. (n=1003)
|
32
|
36
|
18
|
10
|
4
|
|
Q35. Offering prisoners benefits like free education is disrespectful to
victims of crime who might still be suffering. (n=1003)
|
16
|
23
|
30
|
28
|
3
|
|
Q36. The vast majority of people convicted of crimes will never change
and it’s not worth the time and money we spend to try to rehabilitate
them. (n=1003)
|
11
|
12
|
35
|
41
|
2
|
Impact on Vote:
Question: “Now I’m going to read you some suggestions that some
people have made for how to reform the criminal justice system. After
each one, please tell me whether you would be more or less likely to
vote for one of your elected officials if he or she supported this idea.
If one of your elected officials were to support this idea, would you
be…”
Table 6: ACLU: How Prison Reform/Attitudes will Influence
Voting
|
Question
|
Much More Likely (%)
|
Somewhat More Likely (%)
|
Somewhat Less Likely (%)
|
Much Less Likely (%)
|
No Impact (%)
|
Dont Know (%)
|
|
Q40. Reduce the prison population and use the cost savings to reinvest
in drug treatment and mental health programs. (n=339)
|
41
|
27
|
11
|
15
|
4
|
2
|
|
Q39. Reduce the prison population and use the cost savings to reinvest
in community programs that have been shown to prevent crime. (n=332)
|
39
|
35
|
13
|
9
|
2
|
2
|
|
Q37. More funding for drug treatment programs to rehabilitate people who
have committed a crime. (n=496)
|
37
|
37
|
10
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
|
Q46. Eliminate mandatory sentences that take discretion away from judges
so that judges can issue a sentence that is appropriate to each crime.
(n=496)
|
37
|
35
|
12
|
10
|
4
|
2
|
|
Q38. More funding for mental health programs to rehabilitate people who
have committed a crime. (n=507)
|
36
|
38
|
16
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
|
Q41. Reduce sentences and use the cost savings to reinvest in community
programs that have been shown to prevent crime. (n=332)
|
35
|
39
|
15
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
|
Q49. Repeal the requirement that people sentenced to prison serve at
least 85 percent of their time behind bars before being eligible for
release, and allow them to earn earlier transitions to community-based
supervision if they accept responsibility, make amends for their crime,
and participate in rehabilitation programs. (n=339)
|
35
|
35
|
8
|
12
|
6
|
3
|
|
Q45. Expand the options for early release to incarcerated people who can
show they have been rehabilitated through drug treatment or mental
health services. (n=507)
|
34
|
44
|
12
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
|
Q43. Reduce the prison population by diverting offenders into proven
rehabilitation programs that address the root causes of violent
behavior. (n=507)
|
33
|
35
|
16
|
11
|
4
|
2
|
|
Q47. Eliminate mandatory sentences and return to allowing judges to
decide sentences, on a case-by-case basis. (n=507)
|
32
|
36
|
14
|
12
|
4
|
1
|
|
Q50. Repeal the requirement that people sentenced to prison serve at
least 85 percent of their time behind bars before being eligible for
release, and allow them to earn earlier opportunities to return home to
their families if they accept responsibility, make amends for their
crime, and participate in rehabilitation programs. (n=332)
|
27
|
45
|
14
|
10
|
3
|
2
|
|
Q48. Allow parole boards to use their discretion to decide which people
in prison need to serve the maximum possible length of their sentences
and who can be released if they are no longer a danger to society.
(n=332)
|
25
|
47
|
11
|
8
|
7
|
3
|
|
Q44. Allow more incarcerated people, even those convicted of serious
crimes who show they can be rehabilitated, to be eligible for reduced
sentences for completing drug treatment, rehabilitation, education, or
job training programs. (n=496)
|
24
|
43
|
15
|
14
|
3
|
1
|
|
Q42. Reduce the prison population by increasing the use of restitution
such as financial compensation to victims, instead of prison terms.
(n=496)
|
9
|
25
|
24
|
32
|
5
|
4
|
NAMI/Ipsos:
Public Opinion on Criminal Justice, Police, Mental Health, Substance
Abuse Services
Question: “(How familiar are you with the following in the United
States?…Very familiar, somewhat familiar, not very familiar, I have
heard of this, but that’s it)…”
Table 7: How familiar are you with the Mental Health Care
System in the United States?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very familiar
|
12
|
|
Somewhat familiar
|
38
|
|
Not very familiar
|
41
|
|
I have heard of this, but that’s it
|
9
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 8: How familiar are you with the Criminal Justice
System in the United States?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very familiar
|
14
|
|
Somewhat familiar
|
51
|
|
Not very familiar
|
28
|
|
I have heard of this, but that’s it
|
6
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 9: How familiar are you with Alcohol or Drug
Treatment Programs in the United States?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very familiar
|
9
|
|
Somewhat familiar
|
36
|
|
Not very familiar
|
41
|
|
I have heard of this, but that’s it
|
14
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 10: How familiar are you with Law Enforcement in your
community?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very familiar
|
20
|
|
Somewhat familiar
|
52
|
|
Not very familiar
|
23
|
|
I have heard of this, but that’s it
|
4
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Do
people have a favorable or unfavorable view of the topic?
Question: “(Consider the current state of the following in the United
States. Do you have a favorable, or unfavorable view of the
following?…Very favorable, somewhat favorable, lean favorable, lean
unfavorable, somewhat unfavorable, very unfavorable)…”
Table 11: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of
the Law Enforcement in your community?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very favorable
|
22
|
|
Somewhat favorable
|
24
|
|
Lean favorable
|
27
|
|
Lean unfavorable
|
13
|
|
Somewhat unfavorable
|
8
|
|
Very unfavorable
|
6
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 12: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of
the Criminal Justice System in the United States?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very favorable
|
7
|
|
Somewhat favorable
|
18
|
|
Lean favorable
|
24
|
|
Lean unfavorable
|
22
|
|
Somewhat unfavorable
|
16
|
|
Very unfavorable
|
13
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 13: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of
the Alcohol or Drug Treatment Programs in the United States?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very favorable
|
6
|
|
Somewhat favorable
|
22
|
|
Lean favorable
|
37
|
|
Lean unfavorable
|
18
|
|
Somewhat unfavorable
|
10
|
|
Very unfavorable
|
5
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 14: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable view of
the Mental Health Care System in the United States?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very favorable
|
5
|
|
Somewhat favorable
|
15
|
|
Lean favorable
|
28
|
|
Lean unfavorable
|
24
|
|
Somewhat unfavorable
|
18
|
|
Very unfavorable
|
9
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
How concerned are
people with the issue?
Question: “(How concerned are you, if at all, about the following
issues?…Very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, not at
all concerned)…”
Table 15: How concerned are you, if at all, with the stigma
around mental health?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very concerned
|
20
|
|
Somewhat concerned
|
40
|
|
Not very concerned
|
26
|
|
Not at all concerned
|
13
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 16: How concerned are you, if at all, with alcohol or
drug addiction?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very concerned
|
17
|
|
Somewhat concerned
|
39
|
|
Not very concerned
|
24
|
|
Not at all concerned
|
19
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
Table 17: How concerned are you, if at all, with racial
injustice?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Very concerned
|
29
|
|
Somewhat concerned
|
33
|
|
Not very concerned
|
19
|
|
Not at all concerned
|
17
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
How
much improvement people feel is needed (national vs local level)
Question: “Consider the following emergency situations. How much
improvement, if any, is needed at the national level when it comes to
the following emergency responses?…Significant improvement is needed,
slight improvement is needed, not a lot of improvement is needed, there
is no need for improvement…”
Table 18: How much improvement, if any, is needed when it
comes to the following emergency responses: a violent crime?
|
Response
|
On a National Level
|
In your State/Area
|
|
Significant improvement is needed
|
59
|
44
|
|
Slight improvement is needed
|
22
|
29
|
|
Not a lot of improvement is needed
|
6
|
12
|
|
There is no need for improvement
|
3
|
2
|
|
Don’t know
|
9
|
12
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
1
|
Table 19: How much improvement, if any, is needed when it
comes to the following emergency responses: a drug or alcohol crisis?
|
Response
|
On a National Level
|
In your State/Area
|
|
Significant improvement is needed
|
46
|
38
|
|
Slight improvement is needed
|
28
|
31
|
|
Not a lot of improvement is needed
|
9
|
12
|
|
There is no need for improvement
|
4
|
2
|
|
Don’t know
|
13
|
15
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
1
|
Table 20: How much improvement, if any, is needed when it
comes to the following emergency responses: a meantal health or suicide
crisis?
|
Response
|
On a National Level
|
In your State/Area
|
|
Significant improvement is needed
|
54
|
44
|
|
Slight improvement is needed
|
22
|
27
|
|
Not a lot of improvement is needed
|
7
|
10
|
|
There is no need for improvement
|
4
|
3
|
|
Don’t know
|
12
|
16
|
|
Skipped
|
1
|
1
|
Table 21: How well, if at all, do you think the following
groups typically handle responding to mental health, alcohol/drug, or
suicide crises?
|
Response
|
Police
|
Paramedics/EMTs
|
Mental Health Professionals
|
CJ System (Judges, Prosecutors, Jail/Prison Admin.)
|
|
Very well
|
9
|
24
|
38
|
4
|
|
Somewhat well
|
36
|
58
|
49
|
25
|
|
Not very well
|
32
|
13
|
9
|
46
|
|
Not well at all
|
21
|
3
|
3
|
23
|
|
Skipped
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Who
should be the first responder to a mental health crisis
Which statement comes closest to your opinion, even if neither is
exactly right?…When someone is having a mental health or suicide crisis,
mental health professionals should be the primary first responders, when
someone is having a mental health or suicide crisis, police should be
the primary first responders
Table 22: When someone is having a mental health or suicide
crisis, who should be the primary first responders?
|
Response
|
Percentage
|
|
Mental Health Professionals
|
79
|
|
Police
|
19
|
|
Skipped
|
2
|
Sources: