(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most adults in the United States support capital punishment in specific cases, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 63 per cent of respondents favour the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, and 55 per cent would rely on it to punish persons convicted of child rape.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most adults in the United States support capital punishment in specific cases, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 63 per cent of respondents favour the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, and 55 per cent would rely on it to punish persons convicted of child rape.
In addition, 47 per cent of respondents prefer the death penalty over life in prison with no chance of parole for people convicted of murder, up five points since December 2004.
Since 1976, 1,113 people have been put to death in the United States, including 14 this year. More than a third of all executions have taken place in the state of Texas. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia do not engage in capital punishment.
Earlier this month, Dale Leo Bishop was executed in Mississippi for the murder of Marcus James Gentry in 1998. In his final statement, Bishop declared: "For those who oppose the death penalty and want to see it end, our best bet is to vote for Barack Obama because his supporters have been working behind the scenes to end this practice."
Polling Data
Do you favour or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
|
Jul. 2008 |
Dec. 2004 |
|
|
Favour |
63% |
62% |
|
Oppose |
29% |
29% |
|
Unsure |
8% |
9% |
The Supreme Court has recently ruled that a mandatory death penalty for child rape is unconstitutional. Do you favour or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of child rape?
|
Favour |
55% |
|
Oppose |
38% |
|
Unsure |
7% |
Which punishment do you prefer for people convicted of murder: the death penalty or life in prison with no chance of parole?
|
Jul. 2008 |
Dec. 2004 |
|
|
Death Penalty |
47% |
42% |
|
Life in Prison |
44% |
46% |
|
Unsure |
9% |
12% |
Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,783 registered American voters, conducted from Jul. 8 to Jul. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 2.3 per cent.
