Summation

This article is also available as a YouTube podcast.

Since 2021, Black Americans have consistently shown majority-level positive impressions of law enforcement, with recent readings reflecting the highest recorded ratings or matching previous peaks. This article incorporates recent data reflecting the views of all Americans regarding their assessments of law enforcement.

Author

With over 35 years of experience directing award-winning public relations for national and state criminal justice agencies, I have been interviewed extensively by various national media outlets on crime statistics and research. I initiated the first state and federal podcasting series and developed a unique style of government proactive public relations. I hold a Certificate of Advanced Study from The Johns Hopkins University and authored “Success With The Media: Everything You Need To Survive Reporters and Your Organization,” available on Amazon and in bookstores.

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Groups hold varying opinions about law enforcement, with African Americans among those who express diverse sentiments. Communities with a historically strained relationship with law enforcement often grapple with generational issues stemming from that history.

Growing up in working-class Baltimore, I witnessed an adversarial relationship between my peers and law enforcement, characterized by instances of fleeing police rather than respect. This reflects a broader historical context; significant events shape worldviews that can persist across generations. The African American experience in the United States—marked by slavery, Jim Crow laws, and incidents of violence (such as the Tulsa Race Riots)—has created lasting impressions that continue to resonate today.

On a related note, my Uncle’s recounting of the discrimination faced by Irish Catholics illustrates that such grievances can also evoke deep-seated resentment and unresolved feelings.

African Americans Hold Leadership Roles in the Justice System

Today, a significant number of law enforcement and justice agencies in major U.S. cities are led by African American executives. Additionally, there is a notable representation of African Americans within law enforcement and correctional agencies, especially in urban areas.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 30% of correctional officers are Black. In urban probation and parole offices, particularly in cities with sizable Black populations, the representation is even more pronounced. Nationally, Black officers make up about 12%–13% of law enforcement personnel, aligning closely with their proportion in the U.S. population.

Support for Law Enforcement

For years, I have maintained that every demographic group in America supports its police force, with data backing this assertion. While perspectives can vary based on events, political affiliation, age, race, and income, it is a common sentiment among Americans that law enforcement is essential in their communities.

We live in an era where trust in many professions wanes—be it Congress, the media, or other institutions—yet police forces continue to garner support and appreciation from a majority of the public.

The Gallup Center on Black Voices has tracked Black Americans’ experiences with policing since 2021, including metrics on confidence in local police, satisfaction with community relations, treatment of residents, and expectations of interactions.

Recent aggregated results, derived from four quarterly web polls in 2024, reveal modest increases in positivity among Black Americans regarding their perceptions of local police. Conversely, assessments of law enforcement among the general U.S. adult population, particularly among White Americans, have seen more stable, higher ratings.

Despite ongoing challenges, the latest survey indicates that positive impressions among Black Americans, measured on various metrics, have consistently remained at majority levels since 2021 and have recently hit peak levels.

Expectations of an Encounter With Local Police

Three-quarters of Black adults believe that police in their communities would treat them with courtesy and respect during interactions. This figure marks an increase from previous years and compares favorably to similar sentiment among all U.S. adults (87%) and White adults (91%).

Satisfaction With the Relationship Between Local Police and Community

Gallup reports that 64% of Black adults express satisfaction with the relationship between their local police and the community—a figure that has increased both since last year and from a low in 2022. In comparison, the satisfaction level among all U.S. adults with this relationship stands at 76%, while White adults report an 81% satisfaction level.

Belief That Local Police Treat People Fairly

The belief among Black Americans that local police treat individuals like them fairly has also improved, reaching 67%. This marks a four-point increase since 2023 and a nine-point increase since 2022. However, this figure remains considerably lower in comparison to assessments from all Americans (85%) and White Americans (90%).

For more detailed data regarding police perceptions among the public, visit our comprehensive findings.

Confidence in U.S. police has risen significantly, increasing eight percentage points over the past year to 51%, marking the largest change in public perception among major U.S. institutions in Gallup’s 2024 annual update.

Despite general negative sentiments toward many institutions, law enforcement continues to perform well in public perception according to Gallup’s findings.

The 2025 Gallup Report Measuring Professions and Ethics Ratings

According to the most recent Gallup report, police received a “High/Very High” ethics rating of 45% in 2023 and dipped slightly to 44% in 2025. Nurses lead as the most trusted profession, followed by grade-school teachers and military officers.

Contrastingly, we observe that professions such as lobbyists and media figures rank among the least trusted, with more than half of Americans expressing doubts about their ethics.

Conclusions

As discussions about policing evolve, it is crucial to understand how public opinion is measured and what it signifies for law enforcement. While many institutions face declining public trust, policing often ranks more favorably.

With over a million police personnel engaging with 50-60 million individuals annually, varying interactions are inevitable. Data indicates that, overall, many police interactions are perceived positively.

Polling data reveals a consistent desire across various demographic groups for police presence in their communities. Additionally, recent metrics indicate that policing in North America ranks high on a global scale, despite historical challenges, particularly concerning relations with African Americans.

As law enforcement officers continue to pledge allegiance to upholding constitutional protections, the majority of interactions appear to foster respect and understanding, demonstrating a commitment to community safety and trust.

Use of ChatGPT and Google
I have utilized suggestions from ChatGPT and Google in discussing Black representation in today’s justice system.

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