A Gallup poll reported in September 2013 that 80 percent of Americans blamed mass shootings on a failure of the mental health system to identify individuals who are a danger to others. This book examines case studies of violent crimes which are suspected to have been perpetrated by people with mental illnesses and focuses on the role the illness may have played in their actions. The focus of this book is on the American criminal justice and healthcare system.

Contributing to violence? -- What are the origins of concerns about mental illness and crime? -- How strong is the link between mental illness and crime? -- What role does substance abuse play in mental illness and crime? -- Should mental illness be a defense against criminality? -- Could better mental health care prevent violent crime?.