Poster #185 - Rethinking Response: Who the Public Trusts to Handle Criminalized Crisis Events?

• In Event: ASC Poster Session II

Abstract

In the era of national conversations on police reform, mobile crisis response teams have emerged as democratic alternatives to traditional law enforcement, particularly when visible public distress signals behavioral or health-related challenges that may not warrant police intervention. Programs such as CAHOOTS, Portland Street Response, and Denver’s STAR have redirected certain 911 calls away from law enforcement. Yet the recent withdrawal of CAHOOTS from Eugene, Oregon emphasizes the fragility of these initiatives and raises urgent questions about their long-term sustainability and public support. While prior research has centered on the behavioral health outcomes of such programs, less attention has been paid to how the public perceives the legitimacy and ideal composition of response teams in cases involving low-level criminalized conduct. This study investigates public preferences for who should respond to these crisis events. Using survey data (N = 106) and open-ended responses, I analyze how perceived fairness and support are influenced by both the structure of the crisis response team and respondents’ social position and informational background. Findings and implications for policy and future research will be discussed.

Author

• Nazmy Natia, Portland State University