Public opinion data related to the International Criminal Court

1. American Bar Association
December 2014
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may not be disclosed or reproduced without the prior written consent of Ipsos.
December 2014

2. Methodology and Technical Details
This poll comprises findings from an Ipsos online poll:
 Fieldwork period: December 4-8, 2014
 The first wave was conducted February 21-24, 2014
 The survey interviewed a national sample of 1,004 adults
 The first wave included 1,005 adults
 These slides also contain some data filtered on just those respondents reporting that they
know ‘A great deal’, ‘A fair amount’, or ‘ A little bit’ about the ICC at Q1 (cutting out those who
say they know ‘Nothing at all’). This reduced the filtered base size to 338, and is referred to in
the data as ‘Aware of ICC’ audience.
─ The first wave included 379 of these respondents
 Weighting then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the
sample's composition reflects that of the U.S. adult population according to
Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample
universe.
 Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls because they are
based on samples drawn from opt-in online panels, not on random samples
that mirror the population within a statistical probability ratio.
 All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including,
but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
2

3. Knowledge of International Criminal Court
3
1.How much, if anything, would you say you know about the International Criminal Court?
7%
8%
21%
64%
A great deal
A fair amount
A little bit
Nothing at all
Base: All Respondents (n=1005)

4. Knowledge of International Criminal Court- TREND
4
1.How much, if anything, would you say you know about the International Criminal Court?
4%
8%
28%
60%
7%
8%
21%
64%
A great deal
A fair amount
A little bit
Nothing at all
Feb-14
Dec-14

5. Attitudes towards US participation in ICC
2. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the statements
Agree Disagree Don't know
35%
6%
63%
60%
69%
23%
36%
48%
59%
20%
30%
59%
13%
11%
29%
18%
40%
50%
16%
23%
45%
54%
24%
14%
38%
14%
36%
18%
35%
16%
The United States is currently a member of the
International Criminal Court
It is important for the United States to participate in
international organizations that support human rights
and that hold individuals accountable for mass atrocities
Joining international organizations concerned with
human rights and holding individuals accountable for
mass atrocities is a risk to the US because it could hurt
our autonomy
We should dedicate US resources (financial, military,
intelligence, etc) to international organizations that
support human rights and that hold individuals
accountable for mass atrocities
It is not in our best interests to dedicate US resources
(financial, military, intelligence, etc.) to supporting
international organizations that support human rights
and that hold individuals accountable for mass atrocities
ALL
Aware of ICC
ALL
Aware of ICC
ALL
Aware of ICC
ALL
Aware of ICC
ALL
Aware of ICC
Base: All Respondents (n=1005); All at least aware of ICC (338) 5

6. Attitudes towards US participation in ICC-TREND
6
Agree Disagree Don't know
28%
35%
60%
60%
24%
23%
47%
48%
21%
20%
8%
6%
11%
11%
37%
40%
18%
16%
43%
45%
64%
59%
29%
29%
39%
38%
34%
36%
36%
35%
2. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the statements
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
The United States is currently a member of the
International Criminal Court
It is important for the United States to participate in
international organizations that support human rights
and that hold individuals accountable for mass atrocities
Joining international organizations concerned with
human rights and holding individuals accountable for
mass atrocities is a risk to the US because it could hurt
our autonomy
We should dedicate US resources (financial, military,
intelligence, etc) to international organizations that
support human rights and that hold individuals
accountable for mass atrocities
It is not in our best interests to dedicate US resources
(financial, military, intelligence, etc.) to supporting
international organizations that support human rights
and that hold individuals accountable for mass atrocities
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014

7. Joining the International Criminal Court
7
3. The International Criminal Court (ICC)is the world’s only permanent international tribunal created by a treaty for the
purpose of investigating and prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity (mass atrocities). Currently, 122
countries are members of the International Criminal Court. The United States formally announced in 2002 that it would not
become a member of the International Criminal Court for a multitude of reasons, including questions about the court’s
jurisdiction and structure.
Some people believe that the US should become more involved in or fully join the ICC so that we can use our considerable
power, influence, and resources to support the important efforts of the Court to pursue individuals who have committed mass
atrocities (when the perpetrator’s own country’s courts have failed to do so)
Some people believe that the US should not join the ICC because it compromises our sovereignty as a nation, and because our
standing in the world means our military personnel and civilian officials might be prosecuted via the ICC for political reasons
37%
25%
38%
59%
24%
17%
The US should become more
involved in or fully join the ICC
The US should not join the ICC
Don't know
All
Aware of ICC
Which of these statements comes closer to your personal opinion?
Base: All Respondents (n=1005); All at least aware of ICC (338)

8. Joining the International Criminal Court - TREND
8
3. The International Criminal Court (ICC)is the world’s only permanent international tribunal created by a treaty for the purpose of
investigating and prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity (mass atrocities). Currently, 122 countries are members of
the International Criminal Court. The United States formally announced in 2002 that it would not become a member of the International
Criminal Court for a multitude of reasons, including questions about the court’s jurisdiction and structure.
Some people believe that the US should become more involved in or fully join the ICC so that we can use our considerable power, influence,
and resources to support the important efforts of the Court to pursue individuals who have committed mass atrocities (when the
perpetrator’s own country’s courts have failed to do so)
Some people believe that the US should not join the ICC because it compromises our sovereignty as a nation, and because our standing in
the world means our military personnel and civilian officials might be prosecuted via the ICC for political reasons
34%
24%
37%
42%
25%
38%
The US should become more involved in
or fully join the ICC
The US should not join the ICC
Don't know
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
Which of these statements comes closer to your personal opinion?

9. Attitudes towards US participation in ICC
9
4. For each of the statements below, please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the
statement.
Agree Disagree Don't know
47%
56%
28%
37%
31%
49%
25%
41%
18%
28%
30%
42%
27%
31%
32%
37%
35%
16%
41%
21%
41%
20%
43%
22%
The US should continue to dedicate
moderate resources to supporting some
actions of the ICC without formally
joining, such as by providing satellite
photos if our satellites are passing an
area of interest to the ICC
Joining the ICC would compromise
America's sovereignty as a nation
The US should become more engaged
and involved in the ICC without
becoming a member by making all forms
of our vast governmental resources
available to support the work of the ICC
The US should become a full member of
the International Criminal Court and
robustly support all of its work.
ALL
Aware of ICC
Base: All Respondents (n=1005); All at least aware of ICC (338)
ALL
Aware of ICC
ALL
Aware of ICC
ALL
Aware of ICC

10. Attitudes towards US participation in ICC- TREND
10
4. For each of the statements below, please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the
statement.
Agree Disagree Don't know
44%
47%
26%
28%
28%
31%
22%
25%
19%
18%
31%
30%
29%
27%
31%
32%
37%
35%
43%
41%
43%
41%
47%
43%
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
The US should continue to dedicate
moderate resources to supporting
some actions of the ICC without
formally joining, such as by providing
satellite photos if our satellites are
passing an area of interest to the ICC
Joining the ICC would compromise
America's sovereignty as a nation
The US should become more engaged
and involved in the ICC without
becoming a member by making all
forms of our vast governmental
resources available to support the
work of the ICC
The US should become a full member
of the International Criminal Court and
robustly support all of its work.
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014
All-Feb 2014
All-Dec 2014

11. ISIS in the Courts: United States Involvement
11
5A. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating whether charges could be brought against
individual citizens or nationals of ICC member countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, Jordan, and
Tunisia, who may have committed international atrocity crimes in support of ISIS/The Islamic State. The US is
not an ICC member country, which means it is not obligated to cooperate and assist the ICC on these
potential cases against Islamic State, although it may volunteer to help. US law, however, currently forbids
the United States from allocating money to assist the ICC, voluntarily or otherwise.
42%
20%
39%
55%
28%
Which of the following comes closer to your personal opinion?
17%
All
Aware of ICC
The US should amend US laws to allow
funding to assist the ICC in prosecuting
individuals who have committed atrocity
crimes as part of ISIS/The Islamic State
The US should not get involved in
prosecuting individuals who have committed
atrocity crimes as part of ISIS/The Islamic
State
Don't know
Base: All Respondents (n=1005); All at least aware of ICC (338)

12. ISIS in the Courts: United States Involvement
12
5B. Some people oppose US cooperation and assistance with the International Criminal Court and its cases
out of concern that the International Criminal Court may one day also target American citizens or citizens of
our allies (such as Israel). However, the ICC is now considering charges against individuals who have
committed international atrocity crimes as part of ISIS/The Islamic State and who are citizens of ICC member
countries (such as France or Jordan), yet US law makes it hard to support these cases with financial
assistance.
39%
22%
39%
55%
27%
18%
All
Aware of ICC
With this in mind, which of the following comes closer to your personal opinion?
The US should amend US laws to allow
funding to assist the ICC in prosecuting
individuals who have committed atrocity
crimes as part of ISIS/The Islamic State
The US should not get involved in
prosecuting individuals who have committed
atrocity crimes as part of ISIS/The Islamic
State
Don't know
Base: All Respondents (n=1005); All at least aware of ICC (338)

13. Ipsos Contacts
13
Clifford Young
Managing Director, Polling and Public Sector Practice
2020 K Street, NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: +1 202.420.2016
eMail: clifford.young@ipsos.com
Julia Clark
Vice President
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Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: +1 312.526.4919
eMail: jill.humble@ipsos.com
Elizabeth Brashares
Research Associate
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Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: +1 312.526.4744
eMail: elizabeth.brashares@ipsos.com