What percentage of violent crimes is committed by people who do not have mental illness?

• A. 60%
• B. 70%
• C. 90%
• D. 50%

Answer: (C)

Most violent crimes are committed by people who do not have a diagnosed mental illness. This shows that mental illness, while important for individual health, is not the main driver of violence when looking at crime across the population. The figure around 90% reflects the idea that the vast majority of offenders do not meet criteria for mental illness, so the larger share of violent acts comes from those without such a diagnosis. It’s helpful to keep context in mind: mental illness can increase risk in certain situations (for example, if accompanied by substance use or lack of treatment), but, overall, the population-level data show that the majority of violence is carried out by people without a mental illness.