Policing in America: Understanding Public Attitudes Toward the Police. Results from a National Survey
CATO Institute
Dec 7, 2016

policing

“Stark racial and partisan divides in favorability toward police, but no group is ‘anti-cop.’

“While 68% of white Americans have a favorable view of the police, only 40% of African Americans and 59% of Hispanics have a favorable view.1 Attitudes have changed little since the 1970s when 67% of whites and 43% of [B]lacks reported favorable views of the police. 2 Racial minorities do not have monolithic attitudes toward the police. This report finds that Hispanics’ perceptions of police occupy a ‘middle ground’ between [B]lack and white Americans’ views.

“Republicans (81%) are far more favorable toward the police than independents (59%) and Democrats (59%). Nevertheless, majorities of all three groups share a favorable view.”

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