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%

• 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%

• 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 (April 2003) by Peter Wagner, published by the Western Prison Project and the Prison Policy Initiative.

Footnotes

50 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.16.

51 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.16.

52 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.16.

53 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.16.

54 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.16.

55 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.16.

56 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.27.

57 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.27.

58 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.28.

59 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.28.

60 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.28.

61 Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001, The National Data Book. Table 317

62 Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2001, The National Data Book. Table 317

63 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.29.

64 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.29.

65 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.29.

66 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.30.

67 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.30.

68 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.30.

69 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.30.

70 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.30.

71 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, 2000, Table 2.30.