Americans Dissatisfied With Biden Policies To Reduce Crime: NSA/TIPP Poll

By Jim Skinner, Sheriff, Collin County, TX and Chairman of the National Sheriffs’ Association Government Affairs Committee

Most Americans are dissatisfied with President Biden's crime control policies, notably Republicans and independents. Weak immigration policies contribute to an increase in crime. Dissatisfaction spans ideological lines, with conservatives, moderates, and liberals all expressing concerns about these policies.

Americans are experiencing an increase in crime in their neighborhoods over the past year. The rise in crime has significantly impacted public sentiment, with many stating that their views have become more negative compared to 2020.

As a result of increased crime, many American families have been impacted, with some feeling helpless and even considering relocating. Others have reported coping with the changes. Communities facing rising crime rates have witnessed reduced visitation or abandonment, highlighting the tangible consequences of increased crime on people's behaviors and choices.

These findings are based on an online National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)/TIPP survey of 1,378 Americans nationwide conducted in late September through early October for the National Sheriffs Association.

Research shows that crime is the #4 issue among Americans, with 22% following the economy (49%), immigration (35%), and gun violence (23%).

America’s Sheriffs have repeatedly communicated our views to the Biden Administration without success. 

We have recommended they undertake a more holistic approach to preventing violent crime. These efforts should start with some basic principles that we’ve heard repeatedly from Sheriffs across our country:

Combatting Illegal Drug Importation and the Open Border: Reversing the massive illegal importation of narcotics and synthetic drugs is essential. Drugs remain a root cause of violence in communities. We urge the administration to revisit its current unsustainable open border policy and increase security along all of our borders.

Gun Crime Prosecution: Prosecuting every gun crime to its fullest extent must be a starting point. Convicted felons in possession of firearms must be vigorously prosecuted. Armed criminals committing murder with guns will not simply put down their weapons because the law bans the weapon. Violent criminals will always find a way to obtain a gun.

Changing the Mindset of Violators: Too many young people have now normalized a culture where even the slightest insult or dispute can be responded to with lethal violence and murder. Social media comments have been the catalyst for a violent reprisal. This dangerous mindset must be reversed with a focus on communities, ministers, and families. 

Mental Health Crisis: The lack of mental health treatment and facilities are beyond the crisis level. This national disgrace has been laid at the feet of law enforcement, and this is just a blatantly incorrect avenue to solve this massive problem. Both the state and federal governments must act and prioritize rebuilding a national network of mental health facilities. All Governors, with assistance from the US Department of Health and Human Services, must acknowledge that there is a dire need for a significant increase in mental health beds and facilities.

Reevaluating the Failed Experiment of No Bail: Bail “reform” has been a dismal failure. Every jurisdiction in which it has been tried has seen record increases in crime. Bail must be high for anyone caught illegally carrying, using, or selling a firearm. Dangerousness of the accused, as well as his/her prior criminal record, is a constitutional factor to be considered by a judge in setting bail. This can include the accused’s connection to organized crime, gangs, cartels, and transnational crime organizations.

Increase in Crime Over the Past Year

A plurality of 42% report that crime has increased where they live compared to the past year. Only one in ten (9%) states that it has decreased. Over a third (39%) assess that it has neither increased nor decreased. Another 10% are unsure.

Interestingly, a majority of urban dwellers (54%) report an increase in crime compared to only a third (32%) of rural Americans. Four in ten (39%) suburban residents state that crime has increased in the past year.

More Negative Views

The increase in crime leads to more negative views about crime among Americans.

Over half (52%) say that their current views on crime are more negative than at the same time in 2020 during the pandemic. However, a third (34%) state that their views have not changed. Only a handful (10%) say that they are now more hopeful than before.

Interestingly, both Republicans (67%) and independents (54%) have more negative views compared to Democrats (39%). 43% of Democrats say their views have neither worsened nor improved.

Increased Crime: Impact on American Families

Increased crime has a considerable impact on one in five (21%) American families, with 11% adopting a resigned attitude that there is nothing they can do about it. Another 29% say that it has somewhat of an impact and are coping with the changes. The impact has been particularly hard on six percent of respondents considering moving from their current neighborhoods. They add up to 56% and make up the majority.

Nearly four out of ten (39%) report that crime has not affected their families.

Communities with increased crime are being abandoned. For example, nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents have reduced or stopped visiting communities with increased crime. While a third (34%) have reduced, another 29% have stopped altogether.

Dissatisfaction With Biden's Crime Policies

Six in ten (61%) Americans are dissatisfied with Biden's policies to reduce or control crime, with 32% expressing no satisfaction at all and another 29% expressing very little satisfaction.

Meanwhile, 30% are satisfied with his policies, and an additional 10% are unsure.

A significant majority of Republicans (82%) and a similar proportion of independents (61%) express dissatisfaction with Biden's crime policies.

Previous TIPP Polls conducted for the National Sheriffs Association have shown that Americans attribute the increase in crime in the country to Biden's weak immigration policies.

Ideologically, conservatives (79%), moderates (57%), and even liberals (41%) are dissatisfied with Biden's crime policies.

About The Survey

TechnoMetrica conducted the TIPP survey, an online survey for the National Sheriffs' Association, from September 27 to September 29.  The nationwide study had a sample of 1,378 Americans, 18 or older, and TechnoMetrica's network of panel partners provided the study sample. Upon the study completion, TechnoMetrica weighted the study dataset by gender, age, race, education, and geographical region to mirror known benchmarks such as the U.S. Census. The survey’s credibility interval (CI) is +/- 2.7 percentage points, meaning the study is accurate to within ± 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Americans been surveyed. Due to smaller sample sizes, subgroups based on gender, age, ethnicity, and region have higher credibility intervals.

About The National Sheriffs' Association

The National Sheriffs' Association is one of the largest non-profit associations of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation and with a total membership of approximately 14,000 individuals. NSA is dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice. Throughout its eighty-three-year history, NSA has also served as an information resource for all law enforcement, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies.