Poll Results

In September 2023, Strategies for Youth engaged Lincoln Park Strategies to conduct a national survey to poll American voters about police/youth interactions. Here are the key findings.

Do Law Enforcement Agencies Have Written Policies For Interactions With Youth?

56% of poll respondents think most or some law enforcement agencies have specialized policies for youth. In fact most agencies lack policies focusing on youth interactions, according to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Do You Know a Youth Who Has Had an Interaction with Law Enforcement?

Nearly 60% of respondents knew of a youth who had had an interaction with a law enforcement officer.

Should Law Enforcement Treat Youth Differently Than Adults?

A plurality of Americans believe that law enforcement should treat youth differently than adults.

Poll respondents picked 18 as the median age when people should be considered adults (20% thought the age should be older than 18).

Should Law Enforcement Find Alternatives to Arrest for Youth Who Commit Low Level Offenses?

67% believe that law enforcement should find alternatives to arrest for youth who commit low-level non-violent offenses. This includes 79% of respondents who know a youth who had an interaction with law enforcement, and 60% of respondents who do not know a youth who has interacted with law enforcement.

What is Law Enforcement's Obligation to Ensure Youth Understand their Miranda Rights?

Are Officers Legally Required to Read Miranda Warnings Before Interrogating Youth?

80% of poll respondents think that officers are legally required to read Miranda warnings to arrested youth before they interrogate them.

Should Officers Be Required to Ensure Youth Understand Their Miranda Rights?

Of those responding that officers must read Miranda rights to arrested youth, 87% felt officers should be required to take additional steps to ensure youth understand their Miranda rights.

Should a Lawyer be Present During Interrogations of Youth?

78% of poll respondents felt that a lawyer should be present during interrogations of youth.

Should Law Enforcement Officers Have Specialized Policies and Training on Interactions with Youth?

A majority of survey respondents say law enforcement agencies should provide officers with specialized policies and training for youth-related issues, such as responding to youth’s mental health crises.

For example, 64% feel law enforcement agencies should provide officers with policies on how to interact with youth for mental health crises.
65% feel that law enforcement agencies should provide officers with training on how to interact with youth for mental health crises.

Should Police in Schools Have Special Training?

Over 89% believe that police who are deployed in schools should receive specialized training.

Should Police in Schools Be Involved in Routine Discipline Matters?

Almost half (49%) believe that police in schools should not get involved in routine discipline matters but focus exclusively on preventing violence. Only 33% believe they should be involved in disciplinary issues.

Methodology

Poll conducted by Lincoln Park Strategies.
1,000 interviews among American adults conducted from September 21–25, 2023.
The margin of error is ± 3.1 points