Gallup: Majority See Crime Increasing

Two recently released Gallup polls here and here found that 63% of Americans consider crime to be extremely or very serious.   77% of respondents believe that crime has increased in the U.S. while 55% see an increase in their own community.  The poll found that 28% reported someone in their household had been a victim of crime over the past 12 months.  Regionally more respondents in the West (64%) felt that crime was higher in their community.  Politically, 92% of Republicans, 78% of Independents and 58% of Democrats believe that crime has increased nationally.  58% reported that the criminal justice system was not tough enough on criminals, while 26% said it was tough enough and 14% said the system was too tough.  According to the survey, about one in three (36%) of crimes go unreported.  I will go out on a limb here and suggest that most of these unreported crimes are property crimes in California, Oregon, Washington State, Illinois, DC, Minnesota, New York and New Jersey where the penalties for property crimes are either so low or nonexistent that no thief fears the law.  55% of respondents believe that strengthening law enforcement is more important than reducing racial bias.  A significant increase from seven years ago. This data suggests that pro-law enforcement candidates running for office next year, are going to have an edge against progressive opponents and incumbents who are committed to defunding the police and ignoring the level of crime committed by different races.