Many Americans think prosecutors have the final say on local charges
Core finding
No single answer commands a majority on who has the final say over local criminal charges; the prosecutor comes closest at 31%, according to a Verasight survey conducted Oct. 1-11, 2024.
Nearly a quarter name the judge (24%), and just as many say they don't know. Smaller shares point to the police (7%), the grand jury (7%), or the victim of the crime (6%), while almost no one names someone else (1%).
Topline distribution
Many Americans think prosecutors have the final say on local charges.
In your local community, who has the final say on pursuing criminal charges?
n = 1,000 · Oct 1–11, 2024 · MoE ±3.4%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Oct 1–11, 2024 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.4% |
| Module | educ_pol |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- verasight-apsa-2024.tiiny.co
In your local community, who has the final say on pursuing criminal charges?
Cite this question
Verasight APSA Omnibus Survey #2024-103, fielded October 1-11, 2024, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.