Poll: Police Confidence Among Americans Up over Last Year

Confidence in police has increased among Americans over the past year, marking the biggest year-over-year public perception change among over a dozen U.S. institutions, according to Gallup's annual update poll.

This year, 51% of Americans said they have confidence in law enforcement, stated the poll, which was conducted from June 3-23. Among those respondents, 25% said they have "a great deal" of confidence in police and 26% said they have "quite a lot" of confidence.

That's an increase from last year's record low of 43%. Since Gallup began charting it in 1993, American police confidence was at its highest in 2004 at 64%.

Police confidence also increased among most major demographic subgroups, according to the poll. Americans between 18 and 34, people of color and political independents saw jumps, despite having previously expressed lower levels of confidence in police.

Law enforcement was among three of the 17 major institutions measured that earned majority-level confidence from respondents this year. Small business and the military—which historically garner high levels of confidence—topped the list, with 68% and 61%, respectively.

Institutions that had a confidence level of less than a quarter of Americans included:

• the criminal justice system (21%)
• newspapers (18%)
• big business (16%)
• television news (12%)
• Congress (9%)

Go to Gallup's website to see more results from the poll.