Most Americans report seeing local crime news about a weekly basis, which is higher than for news about the weather (68%), schools (59%), politics and government (49%), or sports (38%). The local-level nature of these crime incidents makes them an important piece of information for many individuals. Many property owners, for example, are unaware that they have high rates of robbery or assault on their premises. If they are sued for negligent security, this information can be used by the plaintiff’s attorney to determine whether they were aware of the level of risk in the location where the incident occurred.

Those who consume the most local crime news (regardless of source) are also the most concerned about it and how it may impact their family’s safety. They are also more likely than others to say that they want to see what their community is doing to reduce crime, as well as details about specific crimes and tips on how to stay safe.

Black Americans, in particular, are more interested than those from other racial and ethnic groups in all aspects of local crime news and are much more likely to want to know what their community is doing to reduce crime. They are also more interested than other Americans in seeing the underlying causes and broader patterns of crime, as well as tips on how to stay safe. Interestingly, while Americans who are interested in the underlying causes and broader patterns of local crime say they want to see this information, they are more likely to find it difficult rather than easy to keep up with it.