UCI

Crime: Law Enforcement

Despite concerns being voiced about the impacts of the financial crisis on local police protection, and the effects of the O.J. Simpson trial on confidence in the courts, ratings of law enforcement in Orange County are unchanged from a year ago.

The majority of residents today (53%) say they have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence in the ability of the police to protect them from violent crime. Forty-six percent have not very much (36%) or no confidence (10%) in the police. One percent are unsure.

In contrast to the police ratings, only 25 percent have a great deal or quite a bit of confidence in the courts' ability to convict and properly sentence criminals. Three in four have not very much (52%) or no confidence (21%) in the courts. Two percent are unsure. The survey was conducted during the O.J. Simpson trial, but before the "not guilty" verdict was delivered.

Confidence in the police is lower among those aged 35 to 54 (50%) than among younger (54%) or older (58%) residents. There are no differences by income or region.

As for the courts, residents under 35 (33%) have a little more confidence than do older residents (21%). Those earning less than $36,000 (29%) have somewhat more confidence in the courts than do those with incomes over $50,000 (21%). There are no differences by region.

Confidence in the police and courts is the same for those affected by the bankruptcy as for those who are not. Those who are very worried about the bankruptcy's future impacts have a little less confidence in the police (47% to 52%) and courts (20% to 26%) than do those who are not worried.