Key takeaways
- Americans continue to see crime increasing more nationally than in their local community.
- Americans are increasingly concerned by mass shootings and gun violence when thinking about rising crime, both of which are seen as concerns by majorities.
- A range of rebuttals to conservative criticism on crime focus on Republicans as “hypocrites” led by officials facing investigations themselves, that they’re deflecting from their plan to criminalize abortion, and that they’ve given control to extremists who support political violence.
Top Congressional Priorities: Inflation, Economy, Immigration, Abortion; Lower Priorities Include Crime, Pandemic
While most Americans want a focus on inflation and the economy, they see Biden and Congress focused on abortion and climate.
- Republicans are driving the share who want Congress to be focused on crime: 29% of Republicans say that crime is in their top four issues they would like Biden and Congress to focus on, while just 7% see them focused on it.
Biden and Democrats Much More Trusted on Hate Crimes, Less So on Reducing Violent Crime and Funding the Police
Among independents, Biden and Democrats are more trusted by 10 points to address hate crimes, while Biden and Democrats are underwater by 2 on reducing violent crime and by 13 on funding local police departments.
- On funding the police, Hispanic Americans trust Democrats more by 1 point and AAPI Americans trust Democrats more by 4.
Perception of Rising Crime Remains More National Than Local
Republicans who regularly watch Fox News are much more likely to say that crime nationally (90%) and locally (66%) is increasing compared to their non-Fox News-viewing Republican counterparts (76% and 50%, respectively). Among those who say crime is a top four issue for Biden and Congress to focus on, 84% say crime is increasing nationally and 59% locally, while among those who do not prioritize it as a top four issue, 61% say it is increasing nationally and just 40% locally.
There Are Growing Concerns Around Mass Shootings and Gun Violence
There has been a 6-point increase in the share who are concerned about mass shootings (from 49% in July 2021 to 55% now) and a 9- point increase in the share who are concerned about gun violence (from 44% to 53%).
Top Rebuttals to GOP on Crime: Hypocrisy, Deflecting From Abortion, and Supporting Political Violence
A majority of Americans find each rebuttal “concerning,” though a hypocrisy message that criticizes Republicans for being led by criminals facing investigations and indictments for fraud, tax evasion, and stealing classified documents is strongest across party
