Survey: Public backs police reforms
CNU poll uncovers a high level of support by most
A poll from Christopher Newport University finds support for reforms on track for passage in Richmond.
A handful of criminal justice reform measures currently making their way through the General Assembly have the backing of most Virginians, according to a new Christopher Newport University poll.
The survey, published Tuesday morning from CNU’s Wason Center for Public Policy, shows strong levels of support — above 90% — for law enforcement de-escalation training, mandatory body camera use, and a requirement that police officers intervene when they see colleagues using unlawful force. The Wason Center interviewed 796 registered voters between Sept. 9 and Sept. 21.
State lawmakers, working remotely or in Richmond since Gov. Ralph Northam called them into special session Aug. 18, have passed in one form or another nearly all of the police reform measures the Wason Center poll examined as part of its survey. While the Senate and House of Delegates still have to work out the differences in several bills — such as whether to make civilian oversight boards mandatory or optional for localities — it’s likely the bills will be on Northam’s desk soon for a signature.
About 76% of people surveyed said they supported a requirement for public reports any time police force is used as well as a new public database that tracks police misconduct. Seventy percent of respondents said they favored a civilian oversight board that would review instances of police misconduct, and 66% said they wanted police to focus on serious crimes rather than misdemeanors. About 52% of people said they wanted police officers to live where they worked.
About 56% of voters surveyed said they supported criminalizing the use of “neck restraints,” including chokeholds and the kind of knee hold a Minneapolis police officer used to kill George Floyd in May as Floyd was being arrested. Floyd’s death and those of other unarmed Black people at the hands of police sparked national protests and calls for changes to states’ criminal justice systems this summer.
A statute known as qualified immunity that prevents police officers from being sued — for the most part — by civilians for misconduct, abuse of power or brutality was heavily debated in the General Assembly. CNU’s poll found 52% of voters supported allowing such lawsuits, but state Democrats were unable to garner support for ending qualified immunity, and the bill died earlier this month.
At least one bill receiving approval in the General Assembly doesn’t have support from a majority of Virginians surveyed. Banning the police use of military-style weapons passed the House and Senate on party-line votes, but 50% of poll respondents said they strongly opposed or opposed such a ban.
“Virginia voters are pretty plainly saying it’s time for some of these police reforms to be made into law,” said Wason Center Research Director Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo. “And enough lawmakers seem to be listening that many reforms, though not all, are poised to pass in the General Assembly’s current special session.”
Nearly two-thirds of Virginia voters said police did a good job of protecting people from crime, but only 33% gave an “excellent” or “good” rating for police treating racial and ethnic groups equally. Only 9% of Democrats gave police a good or excellent rating on race, but 62% of Republicans said police were “excellent” or “good” at treating racial and ethnic groups equally.
COVID-19 response
The Wason Center also asked voters their thoughts on the president’s handling of the coronavirus. A majority of respondents said the country is moving too quickly to loosen restrictions, with 86% of Democrats saying the country is moving too quickly, and 74% of Republicans saying the country’s reopening should happen quicker. Northam, a Democrat, began issuing executive orders to limit gatherings, shutter restaurants and require people to stay at home in March. As the percent positivity rate of those infected has decreased, Northam has gradually lifted such requirements around the state.
Nearly 50% of voters said Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden would be better at responding to COVID-19 than President Donald Trump — 36% said Trump was doing a better job — while 11% said neither would be good.
About 46% of voters said school districts should offer a hybrid model of in-person and virtual learning during the pandemic. Most school districts are only offering virtual learning, although some, including Virginia Beach, have started allowing students to return to the schools.