U.S. public divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much or too little time in prison
Americans are closely divided over whether people convicted of crimes spend too much, too little or about the right amount of time in prison.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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What we know about the increase in U.S. murders in 2020
The U.S. murder rate rose 30% between 2019 and 2020 – the largest single-year increase in more than a century.
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Growing share of Americans say they want more spending on police in their area
Amid mounting public concern about violent crime in the U.S., Americans’ attitudes about police funding in their own community have shifted.
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America’s incarceration rate falls to lowest level since 1995
The nationwide incarceration rate is 810 prison or jail inmates for every 100,000 adult residents ages 18 and older.
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10 facts about the death penalty in the U.S.
Here’s a closer look at public opinion on the death penalty, as well as key facts about the nation’s use of capital punishment.
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Most Americans Favor the Death Penalty Despite Concerns About Its Administration
Nearly eight-in-ten U.S. adults (78%) say there is some risk an innocent person will be put to death, and 63% say the death penalty does not deter people from committing serious crimes.
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Under Trump, the federal prison population continued its recent decline
The number of federal prisoners sentenced to more than a year behind bars decreased by 5% between 2017 and the end of 2019.
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How Trump compares with other recent presidents in appointing federal judges
Donald Trump leaves the White House having appointed nearly as many appeals court judges in four years as Barack Obama appointed in eight.
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Americans have heard more about clashes between police and protesters than other recent news stories
The public is more likely to have heard “a lot” about ongoing confrontations between police and protesters than several other stories.
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Before protests, black Americans said religious sermons should address race relations
Six-in-ten black adults say it is important for houses of worship to address “political topics such as immigration and race relations.”
