Voters’ perceptions of crime continue to conflict with reality
Despite double-digit decreases in U.S. violent and property crime rates since 2008, most voters say crime has gotten worse during that span.
The Racial Confidence Gap in Police Performance
Blacks and whites in the U.S. disagree over police performance and differ on the causes of fatal encounters between blacks and police.
Multiple Causes Seen for Baltimore Unrest
The public sees a number of contributing factors for the outbreak of violence and unrest in Baltimore last week, and most say it was the right decision to charge some Baltimore police officers in the death of Freddie Gray.
Divide between blacks and whites on police runs deep
Race and community relations have become the focal point of tension in a series of incidents over the past year.
Mixed Views of Impact of Long-Term Decline in Union Membership
The share of wage and salary workers in the U.S. who belong to labor unions has fallen by about half since 1983. Americans express mixed views on the impact this long-term decline has had on the country.
America’s death row population is shrinking
While most Americans continue to favor the death penalty for murder convictions, far fewer people are receiving death sentences than in years past.
Number of Executions in Each State Since 1977
Over 1300 executions have occurred in the U.S. since 1977, the year after the Supreme Court reaffirmed its approval of the death penalty. See how many executions have been performed in each state since the ruling.
Study finds racial, ethnic divide in attention to crime news
Crime consistently ranks as one of the most followed and discussed topics by the public, and it receives more attention in local news media than almost any other subject. A recent Pew Research Center report reinforces these findings but also suggests that certain groups of residents pay closer attention to local crime than others in […]
About Half See CIA Interrogation Methods as Justified
Following the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on post-9/11 CIA interrogation practices, 51% of Americans say these CIA methods were justified, compared with 29% who say they were not.
Sharp Racial Divisions in Reactions to Brown, Garner Decisions
Survey Report The public has very different reactions to the recent grand jury decisions in two police-related deaths that have sparked protests in cities across the country. By 50% to 37%, Americans say a grand jury made the right decision not to charge former Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael […]
