Black women more likely to see crime as ‘very serious problem’: survey

Black women are more likely than any other demographic to see crime as a very serious problem, according to a survey published Tuesday. 

Though 92 percent of voters surveyed nationwide and in battleground states said crime is a serious problem, 79 percent of Black women said crime is a very serious problem, according to a survey by GQR and Vera Action. 

The study highlights both racial and gender gaps on the issue. 

More than 60 percent of Black men said crime is a very serious issue, while only 57 percent of white women agreed. Asian American Pacific Islander men were least likely to say crime is a very serious issue. 

But the discrepancies persist between generations as well. 

While 68 percent of older adults agreed that crime is a very serious problem, only 46 percent of younger voters said the same. 

Black women were also more likely to say they feel less safe than others. Only 24 percent of Black women said they feel very safe in their communities. 

As such, voters said they want to see a comprehensive approach to tough-on-crime policies.

Though supporting law enforcement is part of what voters are calling for, 37 percent of voters said there should be policies to support police “who put their lives on the line for us but also hold accountable those who use excessive force or abuse their power.”

The GQR survey polled 1,500 registered voters (2,426 unweighted) Aug. 10-23. The survey in battleground states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — polled 1,332 registered voters (1,735 unweighted).