Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #19248
 
1Are you following news stories about former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi, who used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate, who committed suicide days later?
800 AdultsAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyRegion
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3%MaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal5 borosLong IslNJRest of
Yes77%73%80%65%84%81%80%74%81%84%73%57%78%69%84%72%68%83%81%79%70%77%79%
No18%22%14%27%15%12%16%21%14%15%21%28%9%23%12%24%24%16%15%13%29%18%16%
Not Sure5%5%6%8%1%7%4%5%6%1%6%15%13%8%4%4%7%1%4%9%1%4%5%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Adults100%47%53%29%26%25%20%54%46%56%18%17%8%23%46%27%20%40%29%33%14%39%15%
 
 
2Ravi was convicted of invasion of privacy, bias crimes, and hindering prosecution, and was sentenced to 30 days in county jail. Is that punishment too harsh? Too lenient? Or just about right?
616 Following News StoriesAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyRegion
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.9%MaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal5 borosLong IslNJRest of
Too Harsh9%12%7%10%8%8%10%9%9%8%9%9%14%12%8%8%6%9%11%8%7%10%10%
Too Lenient62%57%66%62%60%64%62%61%63%64%58%67%48%54%62%67%56%56%70%63%65%64%53%
Just About Right28%29%27%27%31%26%26%29%26%26%31%22%39%32%29%23%34%33%19%27%27%24%37%
Not Sure1%2%1%0%2%3%1%1%2%1%1%3%0%3%1%1%3%1%0%2%0%2%0%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Following News Stories100%45%55%24%28%27%21%52%48%62%17%13%8%21%51%26%17%43%31%34%13%39%15%
 
 
3Under New Jersey law, people sentenced to 30 days in county jail automatically get a 10 day credit for good behavior, which means Ravi will serve 20 days of his 30-day sentence. Do you approve? Or disapprove? Of this law?
616 Following News StoriesAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyRegion
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.8%MaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal5 borosLong IslNJRest of
Approve29%35%25%25%31%28%33%28%30%28%37%16%42%38%27%27%33%30%29%30%20%31%33%
Disapprove65%59%71%65%67%65%64%66%65%66%58%81%50%60%68%64%64%64%65%64%78%64%62%
Not Sure5%7%4%9%2%7%3%6%5%6%5%3%8%2%5%9%3%6%6%7%3%5%5%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Following News Stories100%45%55%24%28%27%21%52%48%62%17%13%8%21%51%26%17%43%31%34%13%39%15%
 
 
4Do you think Ravi should? Or should not? Have been prosecuted in the first place?
616 Following News StoriesAllGenderAge<50 / 50+RaceParty AffiliationIdeologyRegion
Margin of Sampling Error: ± 3.2%MaleFemale18-3435-4950-6465+18-4950+WhiteBlackHispanicOtherRepublicDemocratIndependConservaModerateLiberal5 borosLong IslNJRest of
Should Have80%76%83%83%78%82%76%80%79%82%75%88%64%67%85%80%77%76%82%84%92%72%81%
Should Not15%19%12%16%17%13%15%16%14%14%18%12%23%27%11%14%19%17%13%13%4%21%15%
Not Sure5%5%5%1%5%5%9%3%7%4%7%0%14%7%4%5%4%6%6%3%4%8%4%
Total100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
Composition of Following News Stories100%45%55%24%28%27%21%52%48%62%17%13%8%21%51%26%17%43%31%34%13%39%15%