Americans Getting Tough on Crime

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

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Welcome to Front Page, where we break down Gallup's latest insights on our constantly evolving world. Here are the five insights you shouldn't miss this week:

1. Americans Getting Tough on Crime

Line Chart: 58% of Americans say the criminal justice system is not tough enough on crime in 2023.

More Americans want to see the criminal justice system get tougher on crime than we've found in the past decade. The increase we've captured in this year's update to our decades-long trend is notable not only for its magnitude but for upending a long trend of declining concern dating back to 1992.
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2. It's Not Just Paranoia

Line Chart: Self-reports of crime victimization in the U.S. in the past year.

Aside from the often politically charged "tough on crime" mantra, Americans express real concern about the crime situation at the national level. While there's been an uptick in perceptions that local crime has worsened, the 17% calling it extremely or very serious is far overshadowed by the 63% describing the national crime situation as serious.
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3. Russia Sanctions Haven't Worked

Line Chart: Russians' confidence in the police, military, banks and judicial system, 2006 to 2023.

In our latest data out of Russia, there's little to no sign that the sanctions regimen instituted by the U.S. and its allies related to the war in Ukraine has dampened Russians' sentiments on their economy. But this does not mean Russians haven't been affected in other ways. Check out how perceptions of the military and financial institutions have shifted since the start of the war.
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4. Let the Sales Begin!

Line Chart: Americans estimate they will spend $923 on average on holiday gifts in 2023.

With Turkey Day in the rearview mirror, many now launch into their holiday shopping spree. This year, Americans say they plan to spend an average of $923 on holiday gifts for their loved ones — a rate not quite as high as the post-pandemic boom but still relatively elevated compared with the post-recession years.
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5. Still Got Leftovers?

Donut Charts: The percentages of Americans who use or discard leftover food per week.

For many, the hardest part of Thanksgiving is managing leftovers. Our recent work with MITRE highlights that when it comes to food waste, freezing and reusing leftovers is one of the most effective ways to avoid throwing good food in the garbage. While many in the U.S. say they make a meal of leftovers at least weekly, 31% of people say their household also throws away leftovers just as often. Did you know that about a third of the United States' total food supply ends up as food waste?
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And that's Front Page!

Mohamed Younis
Editor-in-Chief
Gallup

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