Abstract
Given the link between public opinion and governmental accountability, it is important to understand public attitudes toward mental health outreach in the criminal justice system. This need is especially evident in the wake of highly publicized incidents involving distressed individuals and the justice system. Specifically, how did the public rate the police and the criminal justice system (CJS) in responding to mental health crises one year-post George Floyd's murder (2021)—a pivotal period in which accounts of police misconduct and justice system failures were highly featured by the media? What factors—broader judgements of the legal system, crime-related perceptions, fear of the police, concern about racial injustice, prior mental health history—are associated with these ratings? Drawing on a 2021 national poll, this study examines these research questions. Results suggest varying levels of satisfaction with the police and CJS in the response to mental health. Additionally, divides in public attitudes are evident across theoretically relevant factors. Implications are discussed.
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