Strong support found for foot patrols, neighborhood substations
Many have taught own children to avoid police
Majority support ‘stop and frisk’
Two-thirds can support some firearm restrictions
Strong differences in perceptions based on race/ethnicity
____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Polling Center at Jackson State University’s Institute of Government has released a national survey covering perceptions of local and state police and their departments. Trust and confidence in in law enforcement and the judicial system was also measured. The poll also covered views on gun The control and paying more in taxes to recruit quality police officers.
In 2013, the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in February 2012 gave rise to the Black Lives Matter activist movement against police brutality. As a result, positive ratings of local police officers and their respective departments have declined.
While positive ratings of police officers and their departments remain nearly three times the percentages of negative ratings, the shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Eric Garner in New York City and Freddie Graves in Baltimore have focused attention more critically over the past several years.
Overall positive ratings for local police departments declined to 55.4% from 68.6% in September, 2014 while the overall positive ratings for local police officers moved to 54.4% from 68.2% over the past year.
Positive ratings of state police officers moved somewhat lower to 53.5% from 60.9% over the past year, and positive ratings of Transportation Safety Administration officers at airports dropped somewhat to 36.6% from 41.0% in 2014.
Positive ratings of local police officers (54.4%) are nearly three times higher than negative ratings (19.7%). Similarly, local police department positive ratings (54.4%) are also nearly three times higher than negative ratings at 19.0%.
While down somewhat from 61.8% in 2014, a majority of respondents, 54.7%, continue to strongly or somewhat support “Stop and Frisk” which allows officers to stop suspicious individuals to check for weapons without a warrant.
Community policing, including substations housed in neighborhoods, has the support of nearly three-quarters (71.4%) of all respondents. This is down from 86.3% in 2014.
A large majority, 81.8%, of respondents continue to strongly or somewhat support foot patrols by police officers. While still strong, this level of support is down from 91.6% found in the 2014 JSU/Institute poll.
Unchanged from 2014, 58.7% of all respondents continue their majority support for the transfer of used military weapons and hardware to local police departments from the U.S. Military.
Similar to overall ratings, trust in local police officers, their departments and the judicial system all appear to have declined over the past year.
- Trust in police officers – 53.5% (down from 67.8%)
- Trust in police departments – 53.1% (down from 66.0%)
- Trust in the judicial system – 40.3% (down from 55.6%)
Here too, positive opinions of trust are two times higher than those reporting little to no trust.
Over the past year, those reporting experiencing verbal abuse, condescending remarks or intimidation by police officers moved to 29.6% from 17.1%. Among Hispanics, whites and African-Americans the percentages were 33.5%, 25.5% and 38.4%, respectively.
On being profiled or stopped based on appearance, 26.7% suggested they have had such an experience – up from 15.1% in 2014. The percentages among Hispanics, whites and African-Americans were 33.5%, 21.4% and 43.0%, respectively.
On issues, 53.6% (down from 60.9% in 2014) are willing to pay more in taxes to attract quality police officers. Among Hispanics, whites and African-Americans, the percentages are 56.6%, 55.1% and 46.4%, respectively.
[pullquote align=”right”]Nearly one-half of all respondents, 46.3% (up from 34.3% in 2014) report that they “do all that they can to avoid police officers”. Among Hispanics, whites and African-Americans the percentages collected were 56.6%, 38.6% and 65.6%, respectively.[/pullquote]
Many, 21.5% (up from 11.4%), have “taught their own children to avoid police officers”. The percentages among Hispanics, whites, and African-Americans were 28.3%, 15.0% and 38.4%, respectively.
Two-fifths, 44.0% (down from 47.6% in 2014), suggest that African-Americans are justified when they report fearing the police. Among Hispanics, whites and African-Americans, the percentages are 49.7%, 35.1%, and 70.2%, respectively.
On gun control, those who believe there should be no restrictions or controls on gun/firearm ownership move up to 12.6% from 7.2% in 2014. Those who can see “some restrictions” move to 68.1% in October, 2015 from 79.0% in September, 2014. Those urging “no private ownership of firearms” increased to 12.8% from 9.3% in 2014.
Hispanics (16.8%) and whites (13.0%) are significantly more likely to suggest “no restrictions” on gun/firearm ownership than African-Americans (6.0%).
ABOUT THE POLL: The Poll was conducted by The Polling Center at Jackson State University’s Institute of Government. Polling by the Center is conducted on a regular basis and may also include spontaneous polling on occurring events.
METHODOLOGY: The Poll sampled opinions of 1000 approximately proportional to state population contribution nationwide. The survey was conducted October 13-20, 2015. All surveys were conducted using an online survey instrument. The poll has a +/- 3.0 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level on a composite basis.