Gallup Poll: Abolishing Police is Not Popular

Most Americans agree that police should undergo major changes but do not support abolishing police departments nationwide, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday morning, which found that just 15 percent of Americans support getting rid of the police.

The concept of eliminating police departments does not enjoy wide support across the United States, according to the survey. Abolishing the police was not a majority opinion held by any group in the poll, including when examined by race, age or political affiliation, the Washington Post reports.

The Gallup survey included more than 36,000 people over the age of 18 who were polled from late June to early July. Abolishing the police had the most — though still not much — support among people younger than 35 (33 percent in favor), Democrats (27 percent) and black Americans (22 percent). White Americans and Republicans were likely to oppose the idea, at 12 and 1 percent in favor, respectively.

Forty-seven percent of overall respondents said funds should be shifted from police departments to social services. Black Americans were more likely to support reducing police budgets, at 70 percent, compared with 49 percent of Hispanic and 41 percent of white Americans.

A Pew Research report earlier this month found that more Americans agree with increasing local police spending than lowering it, with 31 percent in favor of increases and 25 percent supporting cuts. The other 42 percent answered that police spending should remain about where it is.