Last Wednesday, Troy Davis was executed by the state of Georgia. He maintained his innocence until the end, and many protested against his death. But a majority of Americans in the Economist/YouGov poll conducted in the wake of that execution continue to support the death penalty for crimes like murder and rape, even though many believe innocent people have been executed and that the death penalty may not deter crime.
60% support the death penalty for murder and rape, and 22% oppose it. In February, shortly after the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the killing of six others in Tucson, Arizona, even more favored the death penalty.
Three in four Republicans and nearly half of Democrats support the death penalty. 48% of African-Americans are in favor, 62% of whites are. Men favor the death penalty somewhat more than women do.
But there is concern that the system can make mistakes. 51% believe innocent people have been executed in the last five years. Only 12% disagree. And when it comes to the death penalty as a deterrent, Americans are dubious. Nearly half say it does not deter crime. Those who support the death penalty are somewhat more positive about its impact, although 42% of them believe innocent people have been executed in the past five years, and a third don’t think it is a good deterrent.
Do you think that any innocent persons have been executed in the U.S. during the last five years?
| All respondents | Death penalty supporters | |
|---|---|---|
Yes | 51% | 42% |
No | 12% | 18% |
Not sure | 37% | 40% |
Do you think that executing murderers deters others from committing murder?
| All respondents | Death penalty supporters | |
|---|---|---|
Yes | 35% | 52% |
No | 47% | 32% |
Not sure | 18% | 16% |
One clear difference between death penalty supporters and opponents comes on the question of whether the penalty is applied fairly. Nearly seven in ten of those who oppose the death penalty say that it is more likely to be applied to minorities than to whites, even when the crime and context are similar. Most of those who support the death penalty disagree.
Overall, the public is divided on this. Last February, just 29% said minorities were more likely to receive the death penalty.
Photo source: Press Association
