St. Louis Traffic

Mini Poll: Conspiracy of Silence?

Ask Mayor Slay. Ask any police officer or prosecutor. Ask the families of the victims of many violent crimes. A frustrating thing (among a series of frustrating elements that includes the personal tragedy, the prevalence of guns in some neighborhoods, and the youth of the perpetrators) in an investigation of many of the recent crimes of violence is the unwillingness of those with knowledge of the crime to come forward and share that information with authorities.

“Stop Snitchin’” is the slogan of an extended joke, cynical criminal campaign, or media exaggeration (you decide) that may (or may not) frighten people with information about a crime from reporting that information to police. It expresses an attitude that is routinely decried by public officials and editorial writers – and celebrated by some musicians and other cultural icons.

Attempts to break through such walls of silence include rewards for coming forward with information, anonymous tip-lines, enlistment of community leaders, and the use of social media and texting to allow for more anonymous reporting.

This week’s Mini-Poll attempts to quantify your attitudes on this subject. If you answer all the questions honestly, we promise not to tell.

Do you believe that it is more difficult for police officers to identify people who commit crimes because of an anti-snitch culture? Yes No
How widespread do you think the anti-snitch culture is? It is pervasive, in most neighborhoods and for all ages It exists in some neighborhoods, but not in all It is more likely to be found in the young and old, who believe themselves vulnerable Not very. Its extent is exaggerated by public officials, police, and the media.
Which of the following do you believe is the most pervasive cause of an anti-snitch culture? Mistrust of law enforcement Fear of retribution based on personal experience Examples of retribution found in television, movies, music A general sense of alienation from the wider community Willingness to take personal safety into one’s own hands A sense that siding with either authorities or criminals is unlikely to improve lives
At which point in a crime would you begin thinking about ending your cooperation with authorities? Calling 911 Waiting for officers to arrive to get them started Cooperating in the early stages of an investigation Identifying perpetrators anonymously Showing up to testify I would do all those things without hesitation
Do you believe that the use of rewards for information about violent crimes should be more widespread? Yes Yes, because I think that using rewards only occasionally increases the sense that some victims are more important than others No
Do you believe that tax dollars should be used to pay rewards for information about violent crimes? Yes No, private sources are appropriate No rewards should be offered
Do you believe that the use of social media, like Facebook and Twitter, and texting are effective ways to gather more information about violent crimes? Yes No
Would you be more likely to share information about a crime if you could do so anonymously using text messages and social media? Yes No
Do you believe that, generally, reporters should be required by law to share information learned about violent crimes during the course of their own investigations? Yes No
Should schools ban the display of clothing on their campuses that display sentiments that discourages snitching? Yes No

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