(11/16/04) -

In Texas, Death Penalty Has Many Backers

(CPOD) Nov. 16, 2004 – Many Texans support capital punishment, according to a poll by the Scripps Research Center. 75 per cent of respondents back the death penalty.

(CPOD) Nov. 16, 2004 – Many Texans support capital punishment, according to a poll by the Scripps Research Center. 75 per cent of respondents back the death penalty.

Since 1976, 943 people have been put to death in the United States, including 58 during 2004. More than a third of all executions have taken place in the state of Texas. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia do not engage in capital punishment, and a moratorium on executions has been issued in Illinois.

While many Texans think men and women convicted of murder may have been put to death unfairly, not many are in favour of a moratorium. 70 per cent of respondents believe the state has executed innocent people, but only 44 per cent would support a temporary halt to review the system’s fairness.

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the death penalty?

Do you think the state has executed innocent people?

Do you support or oppose a temporary halt to executions to review fairness to the system?