01/13

At what age did you first have contact with the legal system, including prison, jail, or the juvenile justice system?

In the United States, first contact with the legal system happens at young ages. Age 11 was the average age of first police encounter among children in the Fragile Families and Family Wellbeing Study. Similarly, the Portals of Policing Project, which sampled people in eleven highly policed neighborhoods, found that the first onset of police contact was most often below 14 (Weaver and Geller 2019).

Weaver, V. M., & Geller, A. (2019). De-Policing America’s Youth: Disrupting Criminal Justice Policy Feedbacks That Distort Power and Derail Prospects. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 685(1), 190-226.

13%

Under 12 years old

22%

12 - 14 years old

21%

15 - 17 years old

16%

18 - 20 years old

9%

21 - 24 years old

4%

30 - 34 years old

6%

25 - 29 years old

3%

35 - 39 years old

2%

40 - 44 years old

1%

45 - 49 years old

<1%

55 - 59 years old

1%

50 - 54 years old

<1%

60 - 65 years old

<1%

Over 65 years old

Under 12 years old

13%

12 - 14 years old

22%

15 - 17 years old

21%

18 - 20 years old

16%

21 - 24 years old

9%

30 - 34 years old

4%

25 - 29 years old

6%

35 - 39 years old

3%

40 - 44 years old

2%

45 - 49 years old

1%

55 - 59 years old

<1%

50 - 54 years old

1%

60 - 65 years old

<1%

Over 65 years old

<1%

02/13

Do you approve or disapprove of labor unions?

In 2024, 70% of people in the United States approve of unions—an approval rate that has been trending upwards over the past decade and a half, according to Gallup. The prevalence of unions is also associated with stronger democracies and economies.

Gallup. (2024, October 16). Labor Unions.

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Approve

54%

Don't know / no opinion

37%

Disapprove

9%

Approve

54%

Don't know / no opinion

37%

Disapprove

9%

03/13

I have the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in politics.

Studies show that internal political efficacy is an important predictor of political participation, notably voter participation.

Moeller, J., de Vreese, C., Esser, F., & Kunz, R. (2014). Pathway to political participation: The influence of online and offline news media on internal efficacy and turnout of first-time Voters. American Behavioral Scientist, 58(5), 689-700.

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44%

Agree

23%

Strongly agree

22%

Disagree

11%

Strongly disagree

Agree

44%

Strongly agree

23%

Disagree

22%

Strongly disagree

11%

04/13

If the election for president were being held today, would you vote for:

Prior research from 2002 estimated that felon disenfranchisement laws may have changed the outcomes of seven Senate races and at least one presidential election: the 2000 election. A change in these election outcomes could have enabled the Democratic Party to gain control of the Senate in the 1980s and 1990s (Manza and Uggen 2002).

Uggen, C., & Manza, J. (2002). Democratic contraction? Political consequences of felon disenfranchisement in the United States. American Sociological Review, 67(6), 777-803.

50%

Donald J. Trump

18%

Joe Biden

12%

Wouldn't vote

11%

Third-Party Candidate

9%

Don't know

Donald J. Trump

50%

Joe Biden

18%

Wouldn't vote

12%

Third-Party Candidate

11%

Don't know

9%

05/13

In politics today, do you consider yourself a...

A wave of new research finds that partisanship has been a very important social idenetity in the United States.

Iyengar, S., & Krupenkin, M. (2018). Partisanship as social identity: Implications for the study of party polarization. The Forum, 16(1), 23-45.

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39%

Independent

23%

Republican

20%

Other

18%

Democrat

Independent

39%

Republican

23%

Other

20%

Democrat

18%

06/13

In the last 12 months, how often have you discussed politics with family, friends, or others in prison?

In the general U.S. population, politics are not discussed very often. According to the Pew Research Center, about one in five adults say they discuss politics a lot with the their family and close friends.

Copeland, J. (2024, July 2). What’s new with you? What Americans talk about with family and friends. Pew Research Center.

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A few times a week

27%

A few times a month

23%

Less often

21%

Nearly every day

15%

Never

14%

A few times a week

27%

A few times a month

23%

Less often

21%

Nearly every day

15%

Never

14%

07/13

Were you ever in the custody of the following systems? Please select all that apply.

Crossover youth are young people involved in both the family policing and legal systems. Although these youth are particularly vulnerable and require coordinated support from public institutions, research suggests institutional actors seek to "offload responsibility" when cases are believed to strain resources or expose them to blame.

Sirois, C. (2023). Contested by the state: Institutional offloading in the case of crossover youth. American Sociological Review, 882), 350-377.

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Juvenile justice system

42%

Child welfare system / child protective services

8%

Immigrant detention

1%

None of the above

49%

Juvenile justice system

42%

Child welfare system / child protective services

8%

Immigrant detention

1%

None of the above

49%

08/13

What interventions would have made the most difference in your life? Please select all that apply.

A slight majority of U.S. adults oppose the idea of the federal government providing a guaranteed income of $1,000 to all adult citizens.

Gilberstadt, H. (2020, August 19). More Americans oppose than favor the government providing a universal basic income for all adult citizens. Pew Research Center.

34%

Access to mental health counseling

14%

Access to drug treatment

12%

Access to affordable housing (or more support to help the homeless)

11%

A better education

6%

Going to college

6%

Finishing high school

6%

A livable minimum wage job

5%

Nothing could make a difference

4%

Universal basic income or cash assistance

2%

Access to affordable healthcare

Access to mental health counseling

34%

Access to drug treatment

14%

Access to affordable housing (or more support to help the homeless)

12%

A better education

11%

Going to college

6%

Finishing high school

6%

A livable minimum wage job

6%

Nothing could make a difference

5%

Universal basic income or cash assistance

4%

Access to affordable healthcare

2%

09/13

Which is the bigger cause of poverty today?

More than two thirds of adults in the general U.S. population believe that people are poor due obstacles they face.

Atske, S. (2020, March 2). Most americans point to circumstances, not work ethic, for why people are rich or poor. Pew Research Center.

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Circumstances beyond their control

52%

People not doing enough to help themselves out of poverty

32%

Not sure

16%

Circumstances beyond their control

52%

People not doing enough to help themselves out of poverty

32%

Not sure

16%

10/13

Before you were incarcerated, did you take part in any of the following? Check all that apply.

While voting is an important form of political participation, it is a relatively basic form of political expression. Other modes of political voice, such as protest and petitions, communicate more specific political ideas and desires.

38%

Not applicable / I have not done any of these items

29%

Voted in a presidential or congressional election

20%

Volunteered in your community. (Does not include mandatory community service as a result of a criminal sentence)

6%

Signed a paper petition

3%

Attended a rally, protest, or demonstration

2%

Joined in a group that meets face-to-face to address social or political issues

1%

Called or wrote a political leader

1%

Participated in a boycott

Not applicable / I have not done any of these items

38%

Voted in a presidential or congressional election

29%

Volunteered in your community. (Does not include mandatory community service as a result of a criminal sentence)

20%

Signed a paper petition

6%

Attended a rally, protest, or demonstration

3%

Joined in a group that meets face-to-face to address social or political issues

2%

Called or wrote a political leader

1%

Participated in a boycott

1%

11/13

People with felony convictions should be able to vote:

Prior research from 2002 estimated that felon disenfranchisement laws may have changed the outcomes of seven Senate races and at least one presidential election: the 2000 election. A change in these election outcomes could have enabled the Democratic Party to gain control of the Senate in the 1980s and 1990s (Manza and Uggen 2002).

Uggen, C., & Manza, J. (2002). Democratic contraction? Political consequences of felon disenfranchisement in the United States. American Sociological Review, 67(6), 777-803.

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While incarcerated for any crime

56%

After they have left prison

34%

While incarcerated, but only if they were convicted of non-violent offenses

8%

Should not be able to vote even after leaving prison

2%

While incarcerated for any crime

56%

After they have left prison

34%

While incarcerated, but only if they were convicted of non-violent offenses

8%

Should not be able to vote even after leaving prison

2%

12/13

Since you have been incarcerated, how often have you met with other people in prison or jail to address an issue you faced?

2023 survey data shows that 15% of all adults in the general U.S. population had attended a community meeting to discuss issues of concern, compared to 9% who attended a rally or dmeonstration.

Public Religion Research Institute. (2024, January 24). Share of adults who have participated in various political activities in-person in the United States in 2023, by generation [Graph]. In Statista.

22%

Never

17%

Just about every day

15%

Once a year or less

14%

Several times a month

13%

Once a month

12%

Several times a week

7%

Once a week

Never

22%

Just about every day

17%

Once a year or less

15%

Several times a month

14%

Once a month

13%

Several times a week

12%

Once a week

7%

13/13

Since you have been incarcerated, how often have you lobbied or campaigned for a cause outside of prison or jail?

Recent survey data shows that 18% of all adults in the general U.S. population had contacted an elected official, compared to 23% who volunteered for a group or cause.

Public Religion Research Institute. (2024, January 24). Share of adults who have participated in various political activities in-person in the United States in 2023, by generation [Graph]. In Statista.

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73%

Never

14%

Once a year or less

4%

Once a month

3%

Several times a month

3%

Just about every day

2%

Several times a week

1%

Once a week

Never

73%

Once a year or less

14%

Once a month

4%

Several times a month

3%

Just about every day

3%

Several times a week

2%

Once a week

1%

Survey data was collected by the Marshall Project and weighted by David Knight at Columbia University. For more information on how the Survey of the Incarcerated was conducted, visit the Marshall Project’s website.

themarshallproject.org