(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - A majority of adults in the United States is supportive of capital punishment, according to a poll by Harris Interactive. 63 per cent of respondents believe in the death penalty, down six points since 2003.

Conversely, 30 per cent are opposed to capital punishment, up eight points in five years.

Since 1976, 1,099 people have been put to death in the United States, including 42 last year. More than a third of all executions have taken place in the state of Texas. Twelve states and the District of Columbia do not engage in capital punishment.

Earlier this month, Missouri governor Matt Blunt filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to voice his support for imposing the death penalty for the sexual abuse of minors. Blunt wrote: "Violent sex offences against children are unspeakable crimes, crimes so horrific that they defy comprehension and demand harsh punishment."

Five U.S. states—Louisiana, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas—allow capital punishment for child rape.

Polling Data

Do you believe in capital punishment, that is the death penalty, or are you opposed to it?

Source: Harris Interactive
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,010 American adults, conducted from Feb. 5 to Feb. 11, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

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