Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS) Fall 2015, Question 32a

Opinion of jurisdiction's citizens about trade-offs between protecting privacy and ensuring public safety

Full Question Text

Some people think that in order to prevent crime, it is important for law enforcement agencies to maximize surveillance, as through the use of dashboard cameras, body cameras, and public surveillance, even if this threatens personal privacy. Others think it is more important to ensure personal privacy, even if that might raise the risk of crime. How do you think the majority of your jurisdiction's citizens feel about the trade-offs between protecting the privacy and ensuring public safety?

Jurisdiction Type Crosstabulation
% within Jurisdiction Type
  Jurisdiction Type Total
County Township City Village
Some people think that in order to prevent crime, it is important for law enforcement agencies to maximize surveillance, as through the use of dashboard cameras, body cameras, and public surveillance, even if this threatens personal privacy. Others think it is more important to ensure personal privacy, even if that might raise the risk of crime. How do you think the majority of your jurisdiction's citizens feel about the trade-offs between protecting privacy and ensuring public safety? Protecting personal privacy is more important than ensuring public safety 6% 7% 8% 7% 7%
Personal privacy and public safety are equally important 61% 59% 62% 62% 60%
Ensuring public safety is more important than protecting personal privacy 8% 8% 10% 9% 9%
Don't Know 25% 26% 20% 22% 24%