Cliff’s Take: Law and Order, with Caveats

While crime has been on a steady downward decline from 1990s, 2020 saw a strong reversal in this trend. COVID related? Unclear.

Whatever the ultimate cause, Americans are worried about crime again. As our latest polling with USA Today shows, America sees law and order as the answer to the problem.

But America has changed. Indeed, underlaying this focus is a new awareness of racial inequality in policing and the criminal justice system. The past year of protests following the murder of George Floyd has left its mark. Again, America is a different place than it once was.

Here’s what the data has to say:

1. Back to the future. With concern about the pandemic on the wane, what worries America looks different. Crime and gun violence, along with political extremism, are now the top issues of the day. Did we travel back in time to the 1990’s? Sure feels like it. But no, this is post-COVID 2021.
2. A silver bullet? And who do Americans trust to fix the problem? Overall, a majority point to police and law enforcement as a solution. Red Americans more so; Blue Americans less so. The tale of two Americas finds itself in all issues including public safety.
3. Policing with caveats. America wants to deploy more police on the streets. Makes sense in the current crime context. But America also wants a different sort of policing—one with oversight. We have changed as a society. Was the pandemic the precipitating cause? Or is it simply the natural progression of things?  Not sure.
4. Unequal treatment. At the same time, our new America recognizes the inequalities in the system. Look at the data! America is unanimous—the police and courts do not treat all Americans equally. America has changed.
5. Two Americas. Our new America brings into relief our differential perception of reality.  The data below speaks for itself. One America sees exaggeration in media reports on police brutality and crime – another calls it reality.  This is the context we operate in today.

So, what does the data this week show us? America wants the old world back, but a seriously caveated one. Crime and security is no different—our impulse is a “yes” to law and order– but we want one which is more equitable and fair.

As I told USA Today, “Strong majorities support increased police funding to combat crime, making it clear that America is still a law and order country. However, this [poll also] shows most Americans recognize racial inequalities in law enforcement, suggesting many Americans want justice in addition to safety.

As always, be safe and be sane.