Nearly 2 in 3 say violent crime has increased in past year: poll

Nearly 2 in 3 people say violent crime has increased in the past year, a USA Today-Ipsos poll found.

Along with almost two-thirds saying violent crime has increased, almost one-third say they have seen violent crime increase in their own community. 

Support for bigger police budgets and more police on streets accompanied the belief that more violent crime has been occurring.

The survey found 70 percent of people are supportive of bigger police budgets while 77 percent want more police officers on street patrol. 

The support comes as many police departments have seen a surge in officers quitting or retiring since racial justice protests last summer. 

Sixty-two percent of people believed some of the money from police budgets should go to funding social services, but the movement called “defund the police” received little support at 22 percent.

The defund the police movement become popular after the death of George Floyd but failed to pick up significant support among the public. 

Although support for more officers on the streets was found, faith in the police and justice system seemed to dwindle. 

Only 22 percent believe the police treats everyone equally and 17 percent say courts and lawyers treat everyone equally. 

The poll was conducted between June 29 and July 6. It surveyed 1,201 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.