Based on more than 20,000 survey respondents from all 50 states each year, the new Index measures Americans’ sentiment towards law enforcement and perceptions of public safety
The National Policing Institute (NPI) and Zencity today announced the launch of the NPI-Zencity Public Safety Confidence Index, a first-of-its-kind measure of how Americans view law enforcement and sense of safety. Based on feedback from more than 20,000 respondents each year, the Index draws from regular community input to provide a clear, data-driven view of public confidence in local law enforcement. An interactive dashboard accompanies the Index, allowing users to explore findings across time, geography, and demographic groups.
“Even as crime rates have continued to fall in many major cities since 2024, it is trust, confidence, and community perceptions that ultimately shape whether communities feel safe, crimes get reported, and how police and communities can work together,” says NPI President Jim Burch.
The Index and accompanying dashboard tracks two key dimensions of public confidence in local law enforcement: sentiment toward law enforcement, and perceptions of safety. The Sentiment Index is derived from survey questions around approachability of officers, quality of service, and fair treatment, while the Safety Index is derived from questions around confidence in police to ensure safety in public areas, solve crime, and hold criminals accountable.
“Crime statistics only tell part of the story,” said Zencity CEO and Co-founder Eyal Feder-Levy. “What drives people’s behavior is how they feel in their own neighborhoods — do they trust their local police, do they feel safe, do they believe their concerns are heard? That local perception is key to understanding whether public safety efforts are effective in impacting the lives of local communities.”
Key Findings from the initial Public Safety Confidence Index data
Public safety perceptions begin to align with falling crime rates
While violent crime fell by 4.5% in 2024, perceptions of safety declined throughout the same period, underscoring a gap between actual crime trends and public perception. In Q1 2025, the Index showed a rebound in both sentiment and perceived safety, suggesting that sustained crime reduction, community engagement, and policing efforts may be helping to close that gap. The trend has since stabilized, offering early signs of renewed public confidence.
Confidence levels defy political lines
State-by-state sentiment patterns don’t follow traditional political lines. States like Massachusetts, Illinois, Delaware, Kansas and Utah all show more positive sentiment toward police, while states as varied as California, New Mexico, and West Virginia report lower sentiment towards police.
Confidence varies by demographics and lived experience
Confidence in law enforcement is consistently lower among women, people of color, and younger Americans. Lived experience also plays a role — individuals who experienced crime report feeling less safe, and have lower sentiment towards the police. Among those that experience crime, higher sentiment is associated with more likelihood to report crimes to the police. This suggests that the association between sentiment and interactions with law enforcement may have a real-world impact on crime reporting.
A tool for action and accountability
The Index is designed as a practical resource for a wide range of stakeholders in government, media, and the general public to provide a perception-based measure of effectiveness of law enforcement and feelings of community safety, offering a different perspective compared to traditional crime statistics.
Law enforcement leaders can pinpoint gaps and track the impact of community engagement, training, or policy changes on public sentiment, and the public can rely on a neutral, data-backed barometer during times of national debate on policing.
“This Index gives us an important new dimension and understanding of confidence in law enforcement,” said NPI's President, Jim Burch. “It’s not just about measuring sentiment, it's about giving communities and agencies a shared starting point for enhancements and partnership.”
Methodology
The Public Safety Confidence Index is updated quarterly and drawn from Zencity's national Blockwise benchmark surveys of U.S. adults. The results are based on a non-probability sample of respondents recruited via a mix of web and social media advertisements, mobile app integrations, and online survey panels, and results were weighted to align with key population demographics (age, gender, race, and ethnicity) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey.
The data is available through a publicly accessible interactive dashboard, which is updated quarterly. The underlying data behind the Index will be made publicly available in future updates; in the meantime, researchers or journalists interested in accessing microdata can contact press@zencity.io.
About the National Policing Institute
Established in 1970, the National Policing Institute (formerly the National Police Foundation) is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to pursuing excellence in policing through science and innovation. The National Policing Institute is leading the way in promoting and sharing evidence-based practices and innovation within policing and communities.
About Zencity
Zencity is the leading platform for government decisions powered by community voices. Trusted by nearly 400 cities, counties, and agencies worldwide, Zencity turns resident input into meaningful action, whether deploying resources, shaping policy, or communicating during crises. Agencies across the public sector — from health and public safety to education and transit — use Zencity to understand community needs, act with confidence, and build trust through inclusive, data-driven governance. Learn more about Zencity’s solution for Public Safety and the Blockwise Survey here.
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