Spring 2024 Sheriffs and Police Chiefs

Q28b. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 

b. County prosecutors can be trusted to support the police.

Q28c. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

c. County prosecutors today make it harder for police to do their jobs.

Q28d. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

d. County prosecutors today "have the backs" of local police officers.

Q25c.  (Please only answer for those technologies that are currently in use in your jurisdiction)  Thinking about the positives and negatives of your office’s or department’s use of these policing technologies or equipment (e.g., financial impacts, reduced crime, community opposition to a technology, etc.), do you agree or disagree that they have been a worthwhile investment for the community or communities your office/department serves? 

c. Body cameras

Q28a. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 

a. County prosecutors can be trusted to ensure public safety.

Q29d.  In your opinion, how inappropriate or appropriate is it for…  

d. rank-and-file law enforcement officers to question new policies introduced by an elected County Prosecutor?

Q29c.  In your opinion, how inappropriate or appropriate is it for…  

c.  law enforcement leadership to question new policies introduced by an elected County Prosecutor?

Q29b.  In your opinion, how inappropriate or appropriate is it for…  

b.  county prosecutors to advocate for reforms of police departments? 

Q29a.  In your opinion, how inappropriate or appropriate is it for… 

a. county prosecutors to take public positions on social movements aimed at reforming the criminal justice system?

Q30a. Thinking about the different demands on your office/department and its personnel, which of the following would you say are a priority for you?

a. Quick response times for 911 calls

Q30b. Thinking about the different demands on your office/department and its personnel, which of the following would you say are a priority for you?

b. Officers making arrests for violent crimes

Q31a. Sometimes law enforcement officers stop someone for a minor traffic violation (for example, tinted windows, loud muffler) when they believe a more serious crime is being or has been committed (for example, illegal drugs, illegal weapons). Overall, do you feel the use of traffic stops for minor violations increases or decreases… 

a. public safety?

Q23. Now we would like you to think specifically about gun diversion programs for individuals with no prior criminal history who are facing charges for criminal possession of a weapon. Through a gun diversion program, they would have an opportunity to avoid incarceration and have their conviction dismissed in return for participating in an intervention program (e.g., a nightly curfew, random drug tests, unannounced home visits by police, therapy, skills training, etc.). In general, would you support or oppose this type of gun diversion program in your county?

Q18a. Next, thinking about court costs and fees, would you, in your role as a law enforcement official, support or oppose the following? 

a. Limiting the use of fines and fees in sentencing to those who are able to pay, and community service or other alternatives for those who are unable to pay

Q20a. Do you agree or disagree that the use of cash bail in your jurisdiction has different consequences for community members based on their… 

a. socioeconomic status

Q20b. Do you agree or disagree that the use of cash bail in your jurisdiction has different consequences for community members based on their…

b. race or ethnicity

Q21b. Regardless of whether or not your county currently has pre-trial diversion programs (e.g., drug/alcohol treatment courts or programs, Veterans court, etc.), do you feel the use of pre-trial diversion programs in general helps or harms…

b. public safety in the community

Q21a. Regardless of whether or not your county currently has pre-trial diversion programs (e.g., drug/alcohol treatment courts or programs, Veterans court, etc.), do you feel the use of pre-trial diversion programs in general helps or harms… 

a. recidivism rates

Q21c. Regardless of whether or not your county currently has pre-trial diversion programs (e.g., drug/alcohol treatment courts or programs, Veterans court, etc.), do you feel the use of pre-trial diversion programs in general helps or harms…

c. your officers' workload

Q21d. Regardless of whether or not your county currently has pre-trial diversion programs (e.g., drug/alcohol treatment courts or programs, Veterans court, etc.), do you feel the use of pre-trial diversion programs in general helps or harms…

d. the wellbeing of defendants with mental illness or drug dependency? 

Q22.  Regardless of whether or not your county has pre-trial diversion programs, in general, do you support or oppose these types of diversion programs in your county?

To what extent, if any, would you say the following are currently (or have recently been) problems in the community or communities your office/department serves?

f. Crime overall in your jurisdiction

Q24a.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used? 

a. Unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e., drones)

Q24b.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used?

b. Dashboard cameras

Q24c.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used?

c. Body cameras

Q24d.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used? 

d. Other public surveillance cameras (e.g., on buildings, streetlights, etc.)

Q24e.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used?

e. Automated license plate readers

Q24g.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used? 

g. Predictive policing tools (e.g., using AI to help anticipate or assess crime) 

Q25a.  (Please only answer for those technologies that are currently in use in your jurisdiction)  Thinking about the positives and negatives of your office’s or department’s use of these policing technologies or equipment (e.g., financial impacts, reduced crime, community opposition to a technology, etc.), do you agree or disagree that they have been a worthwhile investment for the community or communities your office/department serves?

a. Unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e. drones)

Q24f.  Next, thinking about the equipment and technology used by your office/department, how likely or unlikely is it that your office/department will use the following types of equipment in the near future, or are they already being used? 

f. Facial recognition technology