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Crime

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In general, do you think the criminal justice system in this country is too tough, not tough enough or about right in its handling of crime?
  Too tough Not tough enough About right No opinion
  % % % %
^ Asked of a half sample; # Gallup/Life Magazine poll
Gallup
2023 Oct 2-23 14 58 26 2
2020 Sep 30-Oct 15 21 41 35 3
2016 Oct 5-9 ^ 14 45 35 6
2003 Oct 6-8 6 65 26 3
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 3 70 22 5
1992 Mar 30-Apr 5 # 2 83 12 3
In general, do you think the criminal justice system is very fair, somewhat fair, somewhat unfair or very unfair in its treatment of people accused of committing crime?
  Very fair Somewhat fair Somewhat unfair Very unfair No opinion
  % % % % %
gallup
2023 Oct 2-23 9 40 32 17 2
2003 Oct 6-8 18 48 22 10 2
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 16 51 22 7 4
Which of the following approaches to lowering the crime rate in the United States comes closer to your own view — [ROTATED: more money and effort should go to addressing social and economic problems such as drug addiction, homelessness and mental health (or) more money and effort should go to strengthening law enforcement]?
  Address social problems Strengthen law enforcement No opinion
  % % %
Gallup
2023 Oct 2-23 64 35 1
2020 Sep 30-Oct 15 63 34 2
Which do you think should be the bigger priority for the U.S. criminal justice system today — [ROTATED: strengthening law and order through more police and greater enforcement of the laws (or) reducing bias against minorities in the criminal justice system by reforming court and police practices]?
  Strengthen law and order Reduce bias against minorities No opinion
  % % %
Gallup
2023 Oct 2-23 55 42 3
2016 Oct 5-9 49 43 8
In your view, how should juveniles between the ages of 14 and 17 who commit violent crimes be treated in the criminal justice system — [ROTATED: should they be treated the same as adults, (or) should they be given more lenient treatment in a juvenile court]?
  Same as adults More lenient treatment Tougher (vol.) Depends (vol.) No opinion
  % % % % %
(vol.) = volunteered response
Gallup
2023 Oct 2-23 46 47 * 6 1
2003 Oct 6-8 59 32 * 8 1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 65 24 1 9 1
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Keep a dog for protection.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 37 62 1
2007 Oct 4-7 31 68 *
2005 Oct 13-16 31 69 *
2003 Oct 6-8 31 69 *
2002 Oct 14-17 30 69 1
2001 Oct 11-14 32 68 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 32 68 *
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Bought a gun for protection of yourself or your home.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 35 64 1
2007 Oct 4-7 31 68 *
2005 Oct 13-16 31 69 *
2003 Oct 6-8 31 69 *
2002 Oct 14-17 30 69 1
2001 Oct 11-14 32 68 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 32 68 *
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Carry a gun for defense.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 23 76 1
2007 Oct 4-7 12 88 1
2005 Oct 13-16 11 89 *
2003 Oct 6-8 12 88 *
2002 Oct 14-17 10 89 1
2001 Oct 11-14 11 89 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 12 87 1
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Carry a knife for defense.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 22 77 1
2007 Oct 4-7 12 87 *
2005 Oct 13-16 11 89 *
2003 Oct 6-8 10 90 *
2002 Oct 14-17 11 88 1
2001 Oct 11-14 9 91 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 10 90 *
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Had a burglar alarm installed in your home.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 36 62 1
2007 Oct 4-7 31 69 1
2005 Oct 13-16 29 70 1
2003 Oct 6-8 25 75 *
2002 Oct 14-17 24 75 1
2001 Oct 11-14 23 76 1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 23 76 1
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Carry mace or pepper spray.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 26 73 *
2007 Oct 4-7 14 86 *
2005 Oct 13-16 18 82 *
2003 Oct 6-8 19 81 *
2002 Oct 14-17 16 83 1
2001 Oct 11-14 17 83 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 18 82 *
Next, I’m going to read some things people do because of their concern over crime. Please tell me which, if any, of these things you, yourself, do or have done. Avoid going to certain places or neighborhoods you might otherwise want to go to.
Yes No No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2021 Oct 1-19 52 47 *
2007 Oct 4-7 48 52 *
2005 Oct 13-16 47 53 *
2003 Oct 6-8 49 51 *
2002 Oct 14-17 43 56 1
2001 Oct 11-14 43 56 1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 56 44 *
In general, do you think the current sentencing guidelines for people convicted of routine drug crimes are too tough, not tough enough or about right?
Too tough Not tough enough About right No opinion
% % % %
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup
2016 Oct 5-9 ^ 38 34 25 4
How much respect do you have for the police in your area — a great deal, some or hardly any?
A great deal Some Hardly any No opinion
% % % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2016 Oct 5-9 76 17 7 *
2015 Oct 7-11 64 25 10 1
2014 Oct 12-15 61 29 9 1
2005 Oct 13-16 56 33 11 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 60 30 9 1
1999 Mar 5-7 64 29 7 *
1991 Mar 14-17 60 32 7 1
1967 Aug 3-8 77 17 4 2
1965 Apr 2-7 70 22 4 4
How much confidence do you have in the ability of the police to protect you from violent crime — a great deal, quite a lot, not very much or none at all?
A great deal Quite a lot Not very much None at all No opinion
% % % % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2014 Oct 12-15 22 35 33 9 1
2006 Oct 9-12 20 41 32 6 1
2005 Oct 13-16 18 35 39 7 1
2004 Oct 11-14 21 40 28 10 1
2003 Oct 6-8 20 40 31 8 1
2002 Oct 14-17 19 39 31 9 2
2001 Oct 11-14 25 41 27 6 1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 20 42 31 6 1
1999 Mar 5-7 29 41 25 4 1
1998 Oct 23-25 19 36 37 8 *
1995 Sep 22-24 20 30 39 9 2
1993 Oct 13-18 14 31 45 9 1
1989 Jun 8-11 14 34 42 8 2
1985 Feb 28-Mar 1 15 37 39 6 3
1981 Jan 16-23 15 34 42 8 1
Have you, personally, EVER been the victim of a crime where you were physically harmed, or threatened with physical harm?
Yes, have been No, have not been No opinion
% % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2011 Oct 6-9 20 80 —
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 23 77 *
Which of the following approaches to lowering the crime rate in the United States comes closer to your own view — do you think [ROTATED: more money and effort should go to attacking the social and economic problems that lead to crime through better education and job training (or) more money and effort should go to deterring crime by improving law enforcement with more prisons, police and judges]?
Attack social problems More law enforcement No opinion
% % %
Gallup
2010 Oct 7-10 64 32 4
2006 Oct 9-12 65 31 4
2003 Oct 6-8 69 29 2
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 68 27 5
1994 Aug 15-16 51 42 7
1994 Feb 26-28 57 39 4
1992 Aug 28-Sep 2 67 25 8
1992 Mar 30-Apr 5 64 27 9
1990 Sep 10-11 57 36 2
1989 Jun 8-11 61 32 7
In some places in the nation, there have been charges of police brutality. Do you think there is any police brutality in your area, or not?
Yes, is No, is not No opinion
% % %
Gallup
2005 Oct 13-16 31 65 4
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 32 65 3
1999 Mar 5-7 38 57 5
1991 Jul 11-14 39 56 5
1991 Mar 14-17 35 60 5
1967 Aug 3-8 6 81 13
1965 Apr 2-7 9 79 12
From what you have read or heard, do you think that DNA evidence is completely reliable, very reliable, only somewhat reliable or not reliable at all?
Completely Very Somewhat Not at all No opinion
% % % % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2005 Oct 13-16 27 58 14 * 1
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 25 53 19 1 2
2000 Mar 17-19 20 57 20 1 2
From what you have read or heard, do you think that fingerprint evidence is completely reliable, very reliable, only somewhat reliable or not reliable at all?
Completely Very Somewhat Not at all No opinion
% % % % %
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup
2005 Oct 13-16 16 53 29 2 *
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 14 50 34 1 1

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Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/1603/crime.aspx
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