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Mass support for proposals to reshape policing depends on the implications for crime and safety
Vaughn, Paige E. Peyton, Kyle Huber, Gregory A.
Vaughn, Paige E.
Peyton, Kyle
Huber, Gregory A.
Abstract
Research Summary
This paper presents novel survey and experimental evidence that reveals the mass public's interpretation of movements to reform, defund, and abolish the police. We find strong support for police reform, but efforts to defund or abolish generate opposition both in terms of slogan and substance. While these differences cannot be explained by differing beliefs about each movement's association with violent protests, racial makeup, or specific programmatic changes, efforts to defund and abolish the police appear unpopular because they seek reduced involvement of police in traditional roles and cuts in police numbers.
Policy Implications
Our findings suggest that public support for changes to American policing is contingent on the perceived implications for crime and public safety. Proposals like defunding and abolition are therefore unlikely to succeed at the national level. Viable police reform may instead require proposals that target changing how police departments and their officers operate rather than lowering police budgets or decreasing police involvement in responding to crime and calls for service.
Keywords
public opinion, policing, policy
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Criminology and Public Policy
Book
Volume
21
Issue
1
Page Range
125-146
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled