Decreasing confidence levels are heavily driven by partisan differences at the federal level.
Statewide survey results indicate that Oregonians confidence in the criminal justice system continues to be a partisan issue.
- Most Oregonians have confidence in their local law enforcement entities such as their local police department (64%) and local county sheriff (61%); however, confidence declines for the FBI (53%).
- Confidence in the US Supreme Court is at a new low with just 38% saying they are confident compared to 55% in 2022.
- Partisan differences are substantial. Democrats (69%) have more confidence in the FBI compared to Republicans (35%), and Republicans (56%) have more confidence in the US Supreme Court than Democrats (25%). Partisan perceptions have been fluid the last several years. Most recently Democrats have lost confidence in the US Supreme Court, likely responsive to the Dobbs decision on abortion. And the declines in Republicans’ confidence in the FBI come after agency’s search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home for classified documents.
- About half of Oregonians have confidence in their county judge (54%). Less than half have confidence in the Oregon Supreme Court (47%) and their county District Attorney (41%).
- When asked about the role of jury members, nearly half (48%) of Oregonians think that the jury should follow the letter of the law and 38% think that the jury should achieve the most just outcome, even if it means not following the letter of the law.