MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission released its latest public safety poll. It shows Shelby County voters have negative feelings towards the criminal justice system when it comes to personal safety and crime. 

The report says the increase was driven primarily by a 20 percent rise in the robbery rate.

According to a survey of 400 Shelby County registered voters conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, 25 percent of participants admitted to being a victim of violent crime, and 71 percent admitted to being a victim of a property crime.

The crime commission says the major violent crime rate remained fairly steady in 2023 with a 7.4 percent increase in Memphis from the year before and a 6.3 percent increase countywide.

About 57 percent of participants say they want crime to be a top priority for elected officials. When asked about specific public safety issues, gun violence was at the top of the list with juvenile crime a distant second. 

One man says he was sitting outside of a gas station last year when a man approached him with a gun demanding his wallet.

“I didn’t think nothing of it at first. Then he shot the gun right next to me. So, when he did that, I got my wallet and gave it to him, $30 cash.” he said.

He was not hurt, but unfortunately, he’s one of hundreds of people in Shelby County who were victimized in 2023.

One Memphis resident, Shanta Abrams, says she’s also been a victim, but she says she believes the issue is rooted in something much deeper. 

“The mindset came from somewhere,” Abrams said. “Of the people that I know that commit crimes, crimes were committed to them first.”