Poll: 70% of both black and white voters think crime is “out of control”, blame DA’s and judges for releasing criminals

Poll: 70% of both black and white voters think crime is “out
of control”, blame DA’s and judges for releasing criminals 1

The results of a poll recently conducted by Rasmussen Reports shows that there’s a shared consensus among racial demographics in the United States that there’s an issue with crime in the country.

Furthermore, the polling data shows that there’s a shared consensus among racial demographics that practices like bail reform and DA’s passing on prosecutions are contributing factors to the increases in crime.

The polling questions featured, and findings are as follows:

“How concerned are you about the recent increase in violent crime?”

Based upon the results from this questions, black, white, and Hispanic Americans are generally in agreeance that there is an increase in crime across the country.

  • 62% of black Americans said they were “very concerned” with 29% saying they were “somewhat concerned”
  • 62% of white Americans said they were “very concerned” with 26% saying they were “somewhat concerned”
  • Hispanic Americans voiced the most worries in the survey, with 71% saying they were “very concerned” and 22% saying they were “somewhat concerned”

“Do you think police in your local area are too tough on violent crime?”

Once again, the polling results found that across racial demographics, there is a concurrence that police are not “too tough” on violent crime.

  • 74% of black Americans answered “no” with 17% saying “not sure”
  • 81% of white Americans said “no” with 12% saying “not sure”
  • 67% of Hispanic Americans answered “no” with 13% answering “not sure”

“Do you feel that your local police department has the necessary resources to battle violent crime?”

This polling question resulted in some disparities, showing that opinions are divided on whether police have access to the tools needed to properly do their jobs.

  • 46% of black Americans answered “no” with 19% answering “not sure”
  • 33% of white Americans answered “no” with 20% answering “not sure”
  • 42% of Hispanic Americans said “no” with 12% saying “not sure”

“Do you think letting accused violent criminals out of jail without bail while they wait for trial increases violent crime?”

The results from this question found that adopted practices of bail reform are overwhelmingly viewed negatively – even when breaking it down by political affiliation, with 84% of Republicans and 64% of Democrats agreeing no bail for violent accused violent offenders increases crime.

  • 64% of black Americans answered “yes” with 17% answering “not sure”
  • 75% of white Americans said “yes” with 13% saying “not sure”
  • 74% of Hispanic Americans answered “yes” and 12% answered “not sure”

“Do you think District Attorneys refusing to prosecute accused criminals contributes to rising violent crime?”

The topic of charges being dropped of accused criminals has been a contentious issue, as we at Law Enforcement Today reported back in June how hundreds of accused rioters from the summer of 2020 riots in New York City were having their charges dropped.

It was of little surprise to see survey responders agree that DA’s dropping charges contributes to increases in crime.

  • 65% of black Americans answered “yes” with 12% answering “not sure”
  • 71% of white Americans answered “yes” with 15% answering “not sure”
  • 71% of Hispanic Americans answered “yes” while 12% answered “not sure”

“Do you think early release of criminals from prison contributes to rising violent crime?”

The practice of early releases from prison started picking up steam in 2020, as various cities and states started implementing early releases from prison in an effort to protect the population from the pandemic.

And the survey results to this question shows again that a majority of voters collectively agree that this practice contributes to rising crime.

  • 50% of black Americans answered “yes” with 23% saying “not sure”
  • 60% of white Americans answered “yes” with 18% saying “not sure”
  • 63% of Hispanic Americans answered “yes” with 12% answering “not sure”

“Do you think reforms that prohibit police from engaging in foot pursuits contribute to violent crime?”

The responses to this question on the poll achieved a collective average of agreeing that inhibiting foot pursuits can be linked to increases in violent crime, but the sentiments clearly aren’t as strongly felt as other perceived contributing factors to upticks in crime.

  • 49% of black Americans answered “yes” while 14% answered “not sure”
  • 51% of white Americans answered “yes” with 23% saying “not sure”
  • 59% of Hispanic Americans answered “yes” while 16% answered “not sure”

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Portland Police survey shows morale basically can’t get much worse among cops: ‘Lack of faith in leadership’

(Originally published August 18th, 2021)

PORTLAND, OR – In a recent press release from the Portland Police Association, the union representing Portland Police officers, the results from their July 2021 survey regarding their members’ views on current leadership and support from officials shows that officers have a general “lack of faith in leadership and perception of little to no support from City Hall.”

According to the results shared by the Portland Police Association, the union had received over a 70% response of the survey sent out to their 780 current members.

Some of the key findings from the survey were outlined as follows:

  • 92% of rank-and-file members of PPB feel no support at all from City Hall. In contrast, 89% feel at least some support from the community.
  • Over 93% do not feel valued as an employee of the City of Portland and report that the lack of support greatly affects their morale.
  • Over 69% report that the Chief’s Office offers little to no support for the work officers do and only 14% believe there is any commitment at all to building morale.
  • Nearly 90% feel the Chief’s Office is disconnected and out of touch with what’s going on within the rank-and-file. And over 71% don’t feel comfortable voicing their concerns.
  • On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), overall job satisfaction was rated between 3 and 4 with many confirming that they’re on the lookout for police jobs elsewhere.
  • 92% feel the Chief’s Office is ineffective at public relations and over 95% feel the Chief’s Office fails to adequately handle political issues that affect the PPB.
  • Over 90% responded never or only once in a while when asked how often the District Attorney’s office was fulfilling its role in pursuing justice on behalf of our Community when people are accused of breaking the law.
  • 96% are supportive of having body-worn cameras for every Portland Police officer.

The citing that “92% of rank-and-file members of PPB feel no support at all from City Hall” is hardly surprising, when seeing that City Hall is home to none other than the City Council offices which consist of Mayor Ted Wheeler and city commissioners.

Which among those commissioners is Jo Ann Hardesty, which we at Law Enforcement Today have covered numerous reports that highlight Commissioner Hardesty’s habitual vilification of Portland Police and championing the idea of police defunding.   

Then there is the portion of the survey results that found over 93% of officers “do not feel valued as an employee of the City of Portland”, which also makes sense since the Portland Police dealt with riots exceeding 100 days in length and officials explored defunding portions of the department during this crisis in the city.

But the problems going on in-house with respect to the PPB is also concerning, with 69% of survey respondents saying Chief Chuck Lovell “offers little to no support for the work officers do”, only 14% saying the chief is committed to “building morale”, 90% alleging Chief Lovell is “out of touch” with the ongoings of rank-and-file officers, and 71% saying they “don’t feel comfortable” bringing their concerns to leadership.

These sentiments shared by survey participants make it all the more understandable that “overall job satisfaction was rated between 3 and 4 with many confirming that they’re on the lookout for police jobs elsewhere.”

In the press release regarding the PPA survey results, PPA Executive Director Daryl Turner noted that during the review of the survey, may of the answers delivered were “hard to read”. Some of the comments Turner shared that came from the survey criticized the Multnomah District Attorney’s Office, which were as follows:

  • “It is difficult to work the streets every day and help those in need when I know that our DA will not prosecute most or all the people that I hold accountable for their actions.”
  • “Why is the morale gone…? Any work I do as an officer is never prosecuted or sentenced. I feel like it’s Groundhog’s Day. Move the transients around, watch the criminals go free, and repeat.”
  • “If the DA and City Council supported rank and file, morale would be better. They make our lives politics rather than recognizing we are human beings.”

Turner said that these results from the survey convey a clear message on what city officials and PPB leadership need to do to resurrect the morale of officers:

“Portland residents want our city leaders and elected officials to step up and lead us up and out of this crisis and the survey confirms that our Officers are looking for leadership and support. To start digging us out of this mess, we need a fully funded and staffed Police Bureau—it will uplift morale and give officers the resources they need to protect and serve.”

Turner added that the constant “us vs. them mentality” needs to be cast aside and city leaders need to approach a more collaborative method to reestablishing the PPB to a status where officers feel pride in their work:

“We need your help. We need your support. We are all part of this community together. We are all sick of the us vs. them mentality. We solve problems by working and standing side-by-side, together.”

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