Policing Alternatives: A Public Opinion Survey

Since 1980, incarceration in the U.S. has increased by about 400%, despite crime largely decreasing from the 1990s to the present. Over 40% of incarcerated individuals have been diagnosed with a mental health condition — almost double that of the general population. As the human and financial costs of incarceration rise, alternative solutions are urgently needed in communities across the U.S. to address the needs of those struggling with mental health conditions, substance use concerns, and extreme poverty.

In Atlanta, the Policing Alternatives and Diversion (PAD) Initiative has become a national model for addressing quality-of-life concerns through community-based, non-police response. In 2021, through contracting with PAD, Atlanta became the first U.S. city to dispatch non-police response teams via its 311 call system. Services include direct on-scene aid, connections to resources, and enrollment in case management and temporary shelter for eligible individuals. In 2024, PAD successfully diverted 282 people from arrest, enrolled 291 people in care navigation, and received more than 1,800 calls for service through 311.

For decades, The Carter Center, under the leadership of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, has supported the human rights of all individuals and the improvement of access to care and support for people with mental illness and substance use disorders. To support the continued growth and institutionalization of alternatives like PAD, The Carter Center, through its Policy, Awareness, and Investment for Alternative Response and Decarceration (PAIReD) Project, partnered with PAD to assess public awareness and support for such services.

In 2024, The Carter Center worked with the national polling firm TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence to survey 1,327 individuals in Atlanta and Fulton County to gauge the public’s awareness, understanding, and support for alternative response models like PAD in their communities. This report offers critical insights for decision makers, demonstrating public readiness to provide sustainable alternatives to policing for individuals in crisis at risk of arrest for issues related to homelessness and mental health concerns. The report outlines clear policy recommendations to institutionalize alternative response models, increase community awareness, and expand services, making the case for broader investment in such models across Fulton County.