PoliticsPoliticspoliceGallup

Confidence In The Police Is The Lowest It's Been Since 1993

Confidence In The Police Is The Lowest It's Been Since 1993
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Senior Reporter and Polling Editor, HuffPost

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Confidence in the police is lower than it's been in more than 20 years, according to a new Gallup poll measuring the levels of faith in American institutions.

Fifty-two percent of Americans say they have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the police, down from more than 60 percent in the mid-2000s and the lowest it's been since 1993, when the poll was first conducted.

"In the past year, the police have been a major focus of news coverage in several incidents in which white police officers' actions resulted in the deaths of black men they were trying to apprehend," Gallup's Jeffrey M. Jones wrote in the poll's release.

The police still remain far more trusted than most other institutions, outpolling everything but the military and small businesses.

In comparison, just 23 percent of Americans have confidence in the criminal justice system, and even fewer trust big businesses or television news. Congress fares the worst, with just 8 percent expressing confidence in the legislative branch.

Gallup surveyed 1,527 Americans between June 2 and June 7, using live phone interviewers to reach both landlines and cell phones.

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Before You Go

Politicians React To Ferguson
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)(01 of18)
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“We need to de-militarize this situation—this kind of response by the police has become the problem instead of the solution," McCaskill said. "I obviously respect law enforcement’s work to provide public safety, but my constituents are allowed to have peaceful protests, and the police need to respect that right and protect that right. Today is going to be a new start, we can and need to do better." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)(02 of18)
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“Everyone deserves a transparent understanding of what happened here. I am fully supportive of County Executive Charlie Dooley and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar calling for DOJ and the FBI to take a careful, open review of the events that led to this tragedy for everyone involved," Blunt said in a statement. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)(03 of18)
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"I will pray for peace in #Ferguson. And I will work for justice," Cleaver wrote on Twitter. (credit:Julie Denesha via Getty Images)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)(04 of18)
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"This is America, not a war zone. The people of #Ferguson just want answers. We all want answers," Warren wrote on Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)(05 of18)
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"The outrage in Ferguson is understandable—though there is never an excuse for rioting or looting. There is a legitimate role for the police to keep the peace, but there should be a difference between a police response and a military response," Paul wrote in an op-ed for TIME. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas)(06 of18)
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"My prayers are with the community in Ferguson for a peaceful resolution between police and citizens. Gov. Nixon must take control," Castro wrote on Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)(07 of18)
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"It is hard to think that the scenes unfolding in Ferguson are taking place in an American city in the year 2014. The nation's eyes are on the city of Ferguson and we will be watching closely. The public deserves a full disclosure of the facts surrounding the heartbreaking death of Michael Brown and the events that followed. Every community in America deserves equal justice and equal protection under the law," Reid said. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio)(08 of18)
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“In the wake of this terrible tragedy, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Michael Brown. I strongly support a full and thorough investigation of the events surrounding his death, and subsequent actions, including the detention of journalists covering this heartbreaking situation," Boehner said in a statement. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)(09 of18)
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“We hope that the Governor’s involvement will immediately deescalate the situation. While we all respect the important responsibility of law enforcement in keeping people safe, law enforcement must also protect their rights," Pelosi said in a statement.“I commend the President for his leadership in directing the Department of Justice to investigate the death of Michael Brown. It is clear the Department of Justice should examine every aspect of the past few days, including whether there were any federal civil rights violations. It should also examine the long standing issues between the citizens of Ferguson and their elected officials and local law enforcement. A credible and comprehensive investigation is absolutely necessary to secure justice for Michael Brown’s family and the community.” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.)(10 of18)
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"It's 50th anniv yr of #CivilRights Act/#FreedomSummer. Must move forward not backward. Ensure justice for #MikeBrown #Ferguson," Rangel wrote on Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)(11 of18)
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"Civil liberties must be protected, but violence is not the answer. Once the unrest is brought to an end, we should examine carefully what happened to ensure that justice is served," Cruz said on Facebook. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio)(12 of18)
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"An elected official was arrested, journalists are being assaulted and innocent, unarmed individuals are having weapons pointed in their faces for merely being outside of their homes," Fudge said. "What I saw last night reminded me of violent responses to uprisings in countries around the world, not here in my own backyard. We are supposed to be better than that." (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)(13 of18)
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"What kind of a police department is it that would refer to the people it should be trying to protect as animals?" Lewis asked on Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)(14 of18)
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"Michael Brown's family is in my prayers during this terrible time in their lives. I'm very concerned by recent events in Ferguson, including the violence that has gripped that community and the inexplicable jailing of two reporters," Rubio said. "As the FBI looks into allegations regarding the police department there, I hope Americans all over the country will voice their opinions through peaceful means and not resort to violence." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)(15 of18)
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"It ought to concern all who believe that justice must always be blind and that no unarmed teenager – no matter his race, religion, or national origin – should ever have to fear for his safety because he is walking down the street," Hoyer said in a statement. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)(16 of18)
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"It is a great travesty to find ourselves again witnessing the blatant violation of our right to peaceably assemble in Ferguson," Conyers said in a statement. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.)(17 of18)
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"No parent should have to bury their child. I pray that the sympathy of our nation will help the Brown family through this difficult time," Moore wrote on Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.)(18 of18)
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"If American exceptionalism means anything, it is that we don't arrest journalists or point weapons of war at unarmed civilians." Himes wrote on Twitter. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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