A substantial share of Americans often or sometimes get news about local crime, and most of these people say that this kind of news makes them worried. And among those who are the most concerned about crime in their community, many express frustration that local law enforcement and politicians are not doing enough to address this issue.
When it comes to the specifics of local crime, most Americans who consume this type of news are interested in knowing what kinds of crimes have been committed (56%) and whether or not these crimes have risen or fallen over time (56%). Black Americans are more interested than whites or other racial groups in this information about specific crimes; they are also more likely to follow the details of crime in their communities closely and to be especially interested in news about violence, including misdemeanor assaults and harassment (such as pushes off a subway platform) that can have a negative impact on their sense of safety.
Overall, about one-third of those who consume this kind of news are extremely or very satisfied with the quality of local crime news that they receive. However, this satisfaction is less pronounced for those who prefer to get this kind of news through social media or locally focused apps. Those who get their local crime news through these channels are more likely to say that the news they consume exaggerates the amount of crime in their communities than is true of those who get this news from TV and newspapers.