THE FIELD POLL THE INDEPENDENT AND NON-PARTISAN SURVEY OF PUBLIC OPINION ESTABLISHED IN 1947 AS THE CALIFORNIA POLL BY MERVIN FIELD Field Research Corporation 601 California Street, Suite 210 San Francisco, CA 94108-2814 (415) 392-5763 FAX: (415) 434-2541 EMAIL: fieldpoll@field.com www.field.com/fieldpollonline Release #2553 Release Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2016 MANY CALIFORNIA VOTERS LACK CONFIDENCE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. STRONG SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY- BASED ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON AND PUNISHMENT TO IMPROVE SAFETY. IMPORTANT: Contract for this service is subject to revocation if publication or broadcast takes place before release date or if contents are divulged to persons outside of subscriber staff prior to release time. (ISSN 0195-4520) By Mark DiCamillo, Director, Mary Lou Fulton, Program Director, (415) 530-5613, (213) 928-8642 A sizable number of California voters, including a majority of African Americans and nearly half of young people age 18-29, feel the justice system is unfair and strongly support community-based prevention strategies for promoting community safety over spending more money on police and prisons. To improve safety, two in three voters strongly support having their local governments spend money to increase access to mental health services (66%), provide more job training programs (66%), increase support programs for young people (66%) and increase access to substance abuse treatment (56%). By contrast, 39% are strongly supportive of increasing the number of police, and just 11% favor building more jails and prisons as a way to make their communities safer. For youth who get in trouble with the law, 69% of voters believe the education and health systems are better suited to oversee their rehabilitation than jails and the justice system. These are the topline findings from a wide-ranging statewide Field Poll conducted on behalf of The California Endowment about issues relating to community safety and the justice system in California. A sizeable proportion of the state's voters 39% believe the justice system in California is unfair when it comes to respecting the rights of the accused and the accuser, convicting the right people, and giving the right punishments to lawbreakers. When asked about their specific concerns about the unfairness of the justice system, 41% of all voters, and 54% of those under age 30, feel the system unfairly penalizes people of color more than whites. The survey also finds that if young people misbehave in school, greater than eight in ten voters (86%) favor making every effort to keep them in school rather than suspending or expelling them, with 53% holding strongly to this view. Underlying this support is the belief, held by about two in three voters, that juvenile offenders should be treated differently than adult offenders. Field Research Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer
#2553 Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Page 2 The survey also asked voters about government policies relating to undocumented immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are awaiting their court date to determine whether they can legally reside in the U.S. Greater than two in three California voters favor allowing them to remain in their communities under supervision or electronic monitoring (68%) over the current practice of holding them in jails or detention centers (31%). If undocumented immigrants are jailed awaiting their court appearances, three in four believe that they should be held in government-run facilities rather than the private, for-profit detention centers that now house the majority of immigrant detainees. "As a health foundation, we believe it's time for a new vision of community safety centered on health, education and investing in young people," said Mary Lou Fulton, Program Director, The California Endowment. "It's encouraging to see that a majority of California voters support moving our tax dollars and policies from punishment to prevention." About four in ten believe the justice system is unfair particularly to people of color Voters in this survey were asked whether they felt the justice system in California is generally fair or unfair when it comes to respecting the rights of the accused and the accuser., convicting the right people and assigning the right punishments to lawbreakers. The results indicate that while 60% believe the justice system is generally fair, a sizeable proportion (39%) think it is unfair. * When asked about their specific concerns about the unfairness of the justice system, 41% of all voters, and majorities of those under age 30 or who are African American, say they are concerned about the system unfairly penalizing people of color. Graph 1* Graph 2 Strong support for increasing health, job and youth support programs to make their communities safer Voters in this survey were asked about six possible ways that local governments could be spending money to help make their communities safer. Receiving the greatest support were increasing access to mental health services (66% strongly support), providing more job training programs (66%), and increasing support programs for young people (66%). A 56% majority also strongly backs increasing access to substance abuse treatment programs. By contrast, far fewer (39%) are strongly supportive of increasing the number of police on the streets, and just 11% favor building more jails and prisons as a way to make their communities safer. Democrats display the strongest support for increased local government spending on various health, job and youth support programs. They are joined by majorities of no party preference voters and about half of the state's Republicans. Graph 3a Graph 3b * Represents the graph number in the accompanying chart pack where the findings are presented in more detail.
#2553 Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Page 3 More than eight in ten think suspending or expelling students from school for misbehaviors should be used as a last resort Greater than eight in ten voters (86%) agree that suspending or expelling students from school for misbehaviors ranging from minor misconduct to violent offenses should only be employed as a last resort after other approaches have been tried to hold students accountable while keeping them in school. Most voters (53%) strongly agree with this approach, while just 14% disagree. Graph 4 Majorities of voters across all age, ethnic and party lines agree that suspending or expelling students from school should be a last resort option, with Democrats, Latinos, African Americans and voters under age 30 most expressing strong agreement for taking this approach. About two in three favor treating juvenile offenders differently than adults, and using the education/health care systems instead of the justice system to oversee their rehabilitation About two in three voters (65%) believe that the state's criminal justice system should treat juvenile offenders differently than adult offenders. In addition, a similar proportion (69%) maintains that the government's education and health care systems are better suited that the justice system to oversee the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. Graphs 5 and 6 Democrats, liberals, and non-partisans are the segments of the voter population most likely to hold these opinions. Two-to-one support for undocumented immigrants to be released into the community under supervision or monitoring as they await their court hearing rather than being held in jail Most California voters (68%) favor a policy of releasing undocumented immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers into the community under supervision or electronic monitoring rather than being held in a jail or detention center (31%) when awaiting their court date to determine their residency status. Graph 7 Nearly nine in ten Democrats and voters under age 30 hold to this view. If undocumented immigrants are jailed awaiting their court appearances, three in four (73%) believe that they should be held in government-run facilities rather than in the private, for-profit jails or detention centers (25%) that currently house the majority of immigrant detainees. Graph 8 30 Note: The accompanying chart pack provides a more detailed accounting of the survey findings.
#2553 Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Page 4 Methodological Details About the Survey The findings in this report come from a survey of 1,200 registered voters in California conducted by The Field Poll on behalf of. The survey was completed online by YouGov September 7-13, 2016 in English and Spanish. In order to cover a broad range of issues, some of the questions in this series were asked of a random subsample 600 registered voters statewide. YouGov administered the survey among California registered voters included as part of its online panel of over 1.5 million U.S. residents. Eligible panel members were asked to participate in the poll through an invitation email containing a link to the survey. YouGov selected voters using a proprietary sampling technology frame that establishes interlocking targets, so that the characteristics of the voters selected approximate the demographic and regional profile of the overall California registered voter population. To help ensure diversity among poll respondents, YouGov recruits its panelists using a variety of methods, including web-based advertising and email campaigns, partner-sponsored solicitations, and telephone-to-web recruitment or mail-to-web recruitment. Difficult-to-reach populations are supplemented through more specialized recruitment efforts, including telephone and mail surveys. was established in 1947 as The California Poll by Mervin Field. The Poll has operated continuously since then as an independent, non-partisan survey of California public opinion. receives financial support from leading California newspapers and television stations, who purchase the rights of first release to Field Poll reports in their primary viewer or readership markets. The Poll also receives funding from the University of California and California State University systems, as well as from foundations, non-profit organizations, and others as part of the Poll's policy research sponsor program. The Poll has published over 2,500 reports over its long history. Field Poll reports issued over the past twenty years can be found at www.field.com/fieldpollonline., a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people's health. The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods, schools and with prevention. For more information, please visit The Endowment's website at www.calendow.org. Questions Asked Think for a moment about the justice system in California and the degree to which it respects the rights of both the accused and the accuser, convicts the right people, and gives the right punishments for crimes. Overall, would you say that the justice system in California is generally fair or generally unfair? Below are two ways that some have said California's justice system may be unfair. Which one concerns you more? It penalizes people of color more than whites. Blacks, Latinos and Asian Americans are more likely to be arrested unfairly, mistreated by police, wrongly convicted for crimes, or given overly harsh punishments. Too many innocent people, regardless of their race and ethnicity, are arrested unfairly, mistreated by police, wrongly convicted for crimes, or given overly harsh punishments. Generally speaking, do you think the justice system should treat adult offenders and juvenile offenders (i.e., those under age 18) the same, or should juvenile offenders be treated differently than adult offenders?
#2553 Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Page 5 Which part of government do you feel is better suited to oversee the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders to help them get their lives back on track prisons, jails and the justice system, or the education and health care systems? The following are some ways that your local government can spend money to help make your community safer. Please indicate whether you support or oppose each proposal. (EACH ITEM ASKED OF A RANDOM SUBSAMPLE OF 600 VOTERS EACH) Increase access to mental health services in communities Increase the number of police on the streets Offer more job training programs Increase support for young people, such as sports leagues, boys' and girls' clubs, and other programs that try to help young people stay in school and out of trouble Build more jails and prisons Increase access to substance abuse treatment programs in communities In California, students can be removed from school for many different kinds of misbehavior, ranging from minor misconduct, like talking back, to violent offenses, such as getting into a fight. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement about school discipline policies: Suspending or expelling students should be used only as a last resort after other approaches have been tried to hold students accountable while keeping them in school.
Chart Pack Views of Registered Voters About Community Safety and the Justice System in California A statewide survey conducted by for September 2016
About the Survey Population surveyed: Sample size: California registered voters. 1,200 surveys in English and Spanish. Interviewing period: September 7 13, 2016. Method: Sample weighting: Auspices: Surveys conducted online by YouGov among the California registered voters included in its online panel of over 1.5 million U.S. residents. Post stratification weights applied to align the sample to the demographic characteristics of registered voters overall and by region. Conducted by on behalf of.
Graph 1 While six in ten voters believe the justice system in California is generally fair, 39% do not % Generally unfair * Small sample base. 60% Generally fair 1% No opinion 39% Generally unfair Total CA voters Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Age 18 29 30 39 40 49 50 64 65 or older Race/ethnicity White non Hispanic Latino African American* Asian American* 39% 38% 33% 45% 44% 41% 39% 38% 35% 36% 40% 56% 41% 2
Graph 2 Divided voter views about which is a greater concern about unfairness in the justice system: innocent people, regardless of race, being treated unfairly or people of color being treated unfairly * Small sample base. No opinion 6% 53% Innocent people, regardless of race, being treated unfairly 41% People of color being treated unfairly Total CA voters Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Age 18 29 30 39 40 49 50 64 65 or older Race/ethnicity White non Hispanic Latino African American* Asian American* More concerned about people of color being treated unfairly 13% 41% 37% 39% 35% 35% 54% 47% 60% 35% 46% 65% 53% 3
Graph 3a Much stronger support for spending more on job training, youth support programs and mental health services than building more jails or increasing the size of the police force as ways local governments can help make their communities safer Spend more to % Support strongly Offer more job training programs Increase youth support programs* Increase access to mental health services Increase access to substance abuse treatment programs 66% 66% 66% 56% Increase number of police 39% Build more jails/prisons 11% * Such as sports leagues, boys and girls clubs, and other programs that try to help young people stay in school and out of trouble. 4
Graph 3b Half or more of voters across all parties strongly support greater spending on job training and youth support programs Total % % Support strongly Democrats % Republicans % No party pref./other % Offer more job training programs 66 80 50 58 Increase youth support programs 66 78 56 56 Increase access to mental health services 66 79 46 65 Increase access to substance abuse programs 56 70 40 52 Increase number of police 39 30 61 31 Build more jails/prisons 11 7 16 12 5
Graph 4 Greater than eight in ten voters think suspending or expelling students should be used only as a last resort as a school discipline policy for students who misbehave Disagree somewhat 9% 33% Agree somewhat * Small sample base. Disagree strongly 5% 53% Agree strongly Total CA voters Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Age 18 29 30 39 40 49 50 64 65 or older Race/ethnicity White non Hispanic Latino African American* Asian American* % Agree strongly 36% 53% 56% 52% 49% 57% 52% 50% 50% 63% 62% 61% 67% % Agree somewhat 33% 28% 41% 31% 27% 31% 35% 34% 34% 34% 27% 29% 37% 6
Graph 5 Voters believe the justice system should treat juvenile offenders differently than adult offenders two to one 1% No opinion Total CA voters Treat juvenile offenders differently 65% 34% Treat adult and juvenile offenders the same 65% Treat juvenile offenders differently Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Political ideology Conservative Moderate 50% 49% 62% 70% 71% Liberal 79% Race/ethnicity White non Hispanic 66% Latino 59% African American* 80% * Small sample base. Asian American* 60% 7
Graph 6 Greater than two in three believe the government s education and health care systems are better suited than the justice system to oversee the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders 1% No opinion Total CA voters Education and health care systems better suited 69% 29% Prisons, jails and the justice system 69% Education and health care systems Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Political ideology Conservative Moderate 49% 45% 72% 69% 80% Liberal 87% Race/ethnicity White non Hispanic 67% Latino 72% African American* 78% * Small sample base. Asian American* 79% 8
Graph 7 Two to one support for undocumented immigrants being released into the community under supervision or monitoring rather than being sent to jail while awaiting a court date to determine their residency status Released into community No opinion 1% 31% Hold in jail/ detention center * Small sample base. 50d% Release in the custody of community organization or family member 18% Released into community with special monitoring device 68% Released into community under supervision Total CA voters Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Age 18 29 30 39 40 49 50 64 65 or older Race/ethnicity White non Hispanic Latino African American* Asian American* 50 65 28 9 49 62 53 58 41 48 49 51 50 63 18 68% 20 85% 37% 22 71% 26 88% 21 17 15 56% 74% 75% 15 63% 16 65% 23 74% 20 70% 13 76% 9
Graph 8 If undocumented immigrants are jailed while awaiting their court appearance, three in four voters favor holding them in governmentrun jails/prisons rather than those run by private companies 25% Jails/prisons run by private companies 1% No opinion 73% Government run jails/prisons Total CA voters Party registration Democrat Republican No party pref./other Political ideology Conservative Moderate Liberal Government run jails/prisons 73% 83% 58% 73% 55% 74% 85% 10