Site Network:Prison Policy Initiative|Prisoners of the Census

Section I: Crime & Punishment in the U.S.

Police and public confidence

  • Percent of public reporting a great deal of confidence in the police, 200150: 57%
  • Percent of Whites reporting a great deal of confidence in the police, 200151: 59%
  • Percent of African-Americans reporting a great deal of confidence in the police, 200152: 38%
59% of Whites and 38% of African-Americans have a great deal of confidence in the police
  • Percent of people aged 18-29 reporting a great deal of confidence in the police, 200153: 45%
  • Percent of people making over $75,000 a year reporting a great deal of confidence in the police, 200154: 66%
  • Percent of people making under $20,000 a year reporting a great deal of confidence in the police, 200155: 48%
  • Percent of public that has a great deal of respect for their local police, 196556: 70%
  • Percent of public that has a great deal of respect for their local police, 200057: 60%
  • Percent rating the local police excellent at being helpful and friendly, 200058: 37%
  • Percent rating the local police excellent at preventing crime, 200059: 21%
  • Percent rating the local police excellent at solving crime, 200060: 16%
  • Number, per 1,000 residents, in a motor vehicle stopped by police in 199961: 109
  • Number, per 1,000 residents aged 18 to 19 years, in a motor vehicle stopped by police in 199962: 225
  • Percent of White people believing local police treat people of all races fairly, 200063: 69%
  • Percent of African-American people believing local police treat people of all races fairly, 200064: 36%
  • Percent of Hispanic people believing local police treat people of all races fairly, 200065: 63%
69% of Whites and 36% of African-Americans believe the police treat all races fairly
  • Percent who report sometimes being afraid of being stopped and arrested when they are completely innocent, 200066: 17%
  • Percent of White people who report sometimes being afraid of being stopped and arrested when they are completely innocent, 200067: 14%
  • Percent of African-American people who report sometimes being afraid of being stopped and arrested when they are completely innocent, 200068: 36%
  • Percent of Hispanic people who report sometimes being afraid of being stopped and arrested when they are completely innocent, 200069: 22%
  • Percent of people making more than $75,000 who report sometimes being afraid of being stopped and arrested when they are completely innocent, 200070: 12%
  • Percent of people making less than $15,000 who report sometimes being afraid of being stopped and arrested when they are completely innocent, 200071: 29%

This page is an excerpt from The Prison Index: Taking the Pulse of the Crime Control Industry (2003) by Peter Wagner, published by the Western Prison Project and the Prison Policy Initiative..