Policing in America: Understanding Public Attitudes Toward the Police. Results from a National Survey

93 Pages Posted: 17 Feb 2017

Date Written: December 7, 2016

Abstract

While 68% of white Americans have a favorable view of the police, only 40% of African Americans and 59% of Hispanics have a favorable view. Attitudes have changed little since the 1970s when 67% of whites and 43% of blacks reported favorable views of the police. Racial minorities do not have monolithic attitudes toward the police. This report finds that Hispanics’ perceptions of police occupy a “middle ground” between black and white Americans’ views.

Keywords: Public Opinion Polling, Police Brutality, Criminal Justice, Police Reform, Race

JEL Classification: J15

Suggested Citation

Ekins, Emily E., Policing in America: Understanding Public Attitudes Toward the Police. Results from a National Survey (December 7, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2919449 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2919449

Emily E. Ekins (Contact Author)

Cato Institute ( email )

1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-5403
United States

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