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The Nationalized Politics of Police Reform

  • Michael W. Sances EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: June 28, 2024
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The Forum
From the journal The Forum Volume 22 Issue 1

Abstract

Policing in the United States is highly decentralized, but recent events have propelled the issue of police reform onto the national agenda. I assess the extent to which the issue of local police reform has become nationalized, or correlated with national party divisions. I document such correlations in survey questions put to the mass public, in bills introduced in Congress, and in bills introduced and enacted in state legislatures. In the mass public, Democrats and Republicans disagree on many issues related to police reform, but majorities of both parties see a need for reform and support many of the same proposals. In contrast, Congress sees sharp partisan divisions on almost every police reform bill introduced, including bills that would enact reforms with bipartisan public support. While my state-level analysis is more suggestive, I find states with more Democratic voters are more likely to introduce and enact police-related bills. In addition to describing nationalization, the analysis reveals a disconnect: while partisans in the mass public are not polarized on specific reforms, elites at the national and state level are.

Keywords: policing; police reform; polarization; nationalization
Corresponding author: Michael W. Sances, Associate Professor of Political Science, Temple University, 464 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA, E-mail:
I thank participants at the 2024 Midwest Political Science Association meeting for comments on a previous draft.

Appendix: Survey Information and Question Wordings.

Survey Dates Mode Category Item Question wording Coding
ANES November 8, 2020–January 4, 2021 Internet/phone General confidence Feeling thermometer I’d like to get your feelings toward some of our political leaders and other people who are in the news these days. I’ll read the name of a person and I’d like you to rate that person using something we call the feeling thermometer. Ratings between 50° and 100° mean that you feel favorable and warm toward the person. Ratings between 0° and 50° mean that you don’t feel favorable toward the person and that you don’t care too much for that person. You would rate the person at the 50° mark if you don’t feel particularly warm or cold toward the person: police Average on 100 point scale
Gallup June 8, 2020–July 24, 2020 Phone General confidence Confidence in police Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one--a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little? … The police Proportion answering “a great deal” or “quite a lot” times 100
GSS December 1, 2020–May 3, 2021 Internet/phone Broad-based reforms Increase police funding We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I’m going to name some of these problems, and for each one I’d like you to tell me whether you think we’re spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount. Law enforcement: too much money, too little money, about the right amount Proportion answering “too little money” times 100
Pew June 16, 2020–June 22, 2020 Internet Broad-based reforms Reduce police funding Thinking about police departments in your area, do you think that spending on policing should be: Increased a lot; Increased a little; Stay about the same; Decreased a little; Decreased a lot; No answer Proportion answering “decreased a little” or “decreased a lot” times 100
Specific reforms Residency requirement Please indicate whether you would favor or oppose each of the following proposals about policing in this country. Require that police officers live in the cities or towns they police: Strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, no answer Proportion answering “strongly favor” or “somewhat favor” times 100
Nonviolent training Please indicate whether you would favor or oppose each of the following proposals about policing in this country. Require police to be trained in nonviolent alternatives to deadly force: Strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, no answer Proportion answering “strongly favor” or “somewhat favor” times 100
Federal database Please indicate whether you would favor or oppose each of the following proposals about policing in this country. Create a federal government database to track police officers who have been accused of misconduct: Strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, no answer Proportion answering “strongly favor” or “somewhat favor” times 100
Civilian oversight Please indicate whether you would favor or oppose each of the following proposals about policing in this country. Give civilian oversight boards the power to investigate and discipline police officers accused of inappropriate use of force or other misconduct: Strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, no answer Proportion answering “strongly favor” or “somewhat favor” times 100
Chokehold ban Please indicate whether you would favor or oppose each of the following proposals about policing in this country. Make it a crime for police to use chokeholds or strangleholds: Strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, strongly oppose, no answer Proportion answering “strongly favor” or “somewhat favor” times 100
End qualified immunity Which statement comes closer to your own views even if neither is exactly right? In order to do their jobs effectively, police officers need to be protected against lawsuits that may be brought by civilians who accuse them of excessive force or misconduct; Even if it might make police officers’ jobs more difficult, civilians need to have the power to sue police officers in order to hold officers accountable for excessive use of force or misconduct; No answer Proportion answering “Even if it might make†or misconduct” times 100
CES 2020 September 29, 2020–November 2, 2020 Broad-based reforms Increase police funding Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Increase the number of police on the street by 10 %, even if it means fewer funds for other public services. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Reduce police funding Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Decrease the number of police on the street by 10 %, and increase funding for other public services Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Specific reforms Federal database Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Create a national registry of police who have been investigated for or disciplined for misconduct. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
End qualified immunity Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Allow individuals or their families to sue a police officer for damages if the officer is found to have “recklessly disregarded” the individual’s rights. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Chokehold ban Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Ban the use of choke holds by police Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Ban military equipment Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? End the Department of Defense program that sends surplus military weapons and equipment to police departments. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Bodycameras Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Require police officers to wear body cameras that record all of their activities while on duty. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
CES 2022 September 29, 2022–November 8, 2022 Broad-based reforms Increase police funding Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Increase the number of police on the street by 10 %, even if it means fewer funds for other public services. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Reduce police funding Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Decrease the number of police on the street by 10 %, and increase funding for other public services. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Specific reforms Federal database Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Create a national registry of police who have been investigated for or disciplined for misconduct. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
End qualified immunity Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Allow individuals or their families to sue a police officer for damages if the officer is found to have “recklessly disregarded” the individual’s rights. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Chokehold ban Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Ban the use of choke holds by police. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Ban military equipment Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? End the Department of Defense program that sends surplus military weapons and equipment to police departments. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Bodycameras Do you support or oppose each of the following proposals? Require police officers to wear body cameras that record all of their activities while on duty. Support; Oppose Proportion answering “support” times 100
Lucid October 29, 2020 Internet Broad-based reforms Support police reform We hear a lot of discussions about changes to policing today. How much do you support each of the following? Keep the police on the streets, but make sure they are well-trained and carefully monitored. None at all; A little; A moderate amount; A lot; A great deal Average on 5 point scale
Reduce police funding We hear a lot of discussions about changes to policing today. How much do you support each of the following? Reduce police budgets and reallocate funding to social services. None at all; A little; A moderate amount; A lot; A great deal Average on 5 point scale
Abolish the Police We hear a lot of discussions about changes to policing today. How much do you support each of the following? Eliminate police altogether and reallocate funds to other activities. None at all; A little; A moderate amount; A lot; A great deal Average on 5 point scale
When to call police Person looking in car windows Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? A report of a suspicious person peeking into car windows. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Fist fight outside bar Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? Two people having a fist fight outside of bar. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Person using counterfeit money Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? Someone trying to pay for goods at a local store with a fake $50 bill. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Person threatening spouse with knife Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? A man threatening his wife with a knife. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Person yelling racist slurs at voters Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? A person yelling racist slurs at people standing in line to vote. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Drunk person yelling at outdoor diners Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? A drunk person yelling at people sitting outside at a restaurant. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Teens loud music at night in park Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. Teenagers loudly playing their music after dark in a public park? A heroin overdose in a public park. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100
Heroin overdose in park Suppose a person calls 911 to report each of the following incidents. In your view, how should the city/town respond? A heroin overdose in a public park. Do nothing; Send someone other than the police, like the fire department or social services; Send the police; Send the police and someone else. Proportion answering “send the police” times 100

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Published Online: 2024-06-28

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Introduction
  3. The Forum: Spring 2024 Issue
  4. Articles
  5. Affluence and the Demand-side for Policy Improvements: Exploring Elite Beliefs About Vulnerability to Societal Problems
  6. The Post-Brown Era in Judicial Policymaking
  7. Blame, Policy Feedback, and the Politics of Student Debt Relief Policy
  8. The Nationalized Politics of Police Reform
  9. Inside the “Administrative State”: The Enigmatic Office for Civil Rights
  10. How Ideological Diversity Moderates Republican Support for Voter Suppression Measures: The Cases of Georgia and Alabama
  11. Ten Years Later: How Water Crises in Flint and Detroit Transformed the Politics of U.S. Water Policy
  12. Climate Change Policy Development: A Multiple Streams Analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
  13. Book Review
  14. Steven Rogers: Accountability in State Legislatures
https://doi.org/10.1515/for-2024-2010
Keywords for this article
policing; police reform; polarization; nationalization

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Introduction
  3. The Forum: Spring 2024 Issue
  4. Articles
  5. Affluence and the Demand-side for Policy Improvements: Exploring Elite Beliefs About Vulnerability to Societal Problems
  6. The Post-Brown Era in Judicial Policymaking
  7. Blame, Policy Feedback, and the Politics of Student Debt Relief Policy
  8. The Nationalized Politics of Police Reform
  9. Inside the “Administrative State”: The Enigmatic Office for Civil Rights
  10. How Ideological Diversity Moderates Republican Support for Voter Suppression Measures: The Cases of Georgia and Alabama
  11. Ten Years Later: How Water Crises in Flint and Detroit Transformed the Politics of U.S. Water Policy
  12. Climate Change Policy Development: A Multiple Streams Analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
  13. Book Review
  14. Steven Rogers: Accountability in State Legislatures
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