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Americans Express Mixed Confidence in Criminal Justice System
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Written by Gayle M. Messinger   
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Prior to the recent verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, Americans had middling confidence in the nation's criminal justice system. The plurality of Americans, 42% expressed "some" confidence in the system, while about equal numbers had a great deal/quite a lot (28%) or very little/none (29%). Date: July 11, 2011

PRINCETON, NJ -- Prior to the recent verdict in the Casey Anthony trial, Americans had middling confidence in the nation's criminal justice system. Twenty-eight percent interviewed June 9-12 said they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the system, 42% had some, and 29% very little or none.

The criminal justice system tied newspapers for 9th place on Gallup's 2011 Confidence in Institutions measure, out of 16 institutions rated. The 28% expressing high confidence falls almost halfway between confidence in the police (56%) and Congress (12%), although it is well below the exceptionally high levels seen for the military (78%) and small business (64%).

Confidence in Criminal Justice System on High End of Trend

While 28% high confidence is not a stellar rating for the nation's justice system, it is among the more positive ratings of it Gallup has recorded since first including it on the annual Confidence in Institutions measure in 1993.

From 1993 through 1997, more than twice as many Americans expressed little or no confidence as expressed high confidence in the criminal justice system. This coincided with negative publicity for the police and the justice system stemming from the 1991 Rodney King beating and the acquittal of four officers in that case in 1992; broader criticism of racial profiling during this period; and, subsequently, Americans' mostly negative reactions to the 1995 "not guilty" verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial.

Public attitudes toward the criminal justice system improved in 1998 and continued to do so through 2004, when high confidence peaked at 34%. Confidence then descended from 2005 through 2007 -- apparently part of a broader decline in public confidence associated with deteriorating satisfaction with President George W. Bush and the direction of the country. It partially rebounded in 2009, coinciding with improved ratings of government under President Barack Obama. Since then, as many Americans have had high confidence as low confidence in the system.

Slight Differences in Confidence by Age, Race, Education, and Partisanship

Gallup finds relatively slight differences among most U.S. subgroups' views toward the criminal justice system, as the plurality of almost all groups express "some" confidence in it. However, young adults are substantially more likely to have high confidence in the system than low confidence, distinguishing them from older adults. Additionally, Republicans and Democrats are more likely to have high than low confidence, while independents tilt toward low confidence.

Bottom Line

Americans' confidence in the U.S. criminal justice system is muted, with as many Americans expressing low confidence as high confidence. This puts the system in about the middle of the various institutions rated this year. However, the 28% now expressing a great deal or quite a lot of confidence is on the high end of the historical range.

Gallup's trends also suggest that specific matters pertaining to the police and high-profile legal cases may have influenced Americans' views toward the criminal justice system in the past. Given that, the "not guilty" verdict in the Anthony trial theoretically could do the same. Indeed, 64% of Americans think the murder charges against Casey Anthony are either definitely (20%) or probably (44%) true, according to a July 6 USA Today/Gallup poll. However, with only 16% of Americans following the case "very closely" and 18% describing their reaction to the verdict as "angry," any effect on views of the criminal justice system is likely to be small.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 22 December 2011 )