CANADIAN PUBLIC AND THE DEATH PENALTY - A STUDY OF A SOCIAL ATTITUDE

• NCJ Number: 44574
• Author(s): E A FATTAH
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 179 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC OPINION IN CANADA REGARDING THE DEATH PENALTY IS PRESENTED; SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

Abstract

RESULTS OF CANADIAN GALLUP POLLS ON THE DEATH PENALTY SHOW A STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE ULTIMATE SENTENCE IN THE 1940'S AND EARLY 1950'S. AFTER A STEADY EROSION IN PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE LATE 1950'S AND EARLY 1960'S, A RESURGENCE SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE LATE 1960'S AND EARLY 1970'S. AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LESS IN FAVOR OF THE DEATH PENALTY THAN CANADIANS. ALSO, IN CANADA, THE DEGREE OF SUPPORT IS NOT UNIFORM IN THE DIFFERENT PROVINCES, WITH THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC USUALLY REPORTING A HIGHER DEGREE OF SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. ATTITUDES TO THE DEATH PENALTY VARY WIDELY, ACCORDING TO CERTAIN SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES. SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IS STRONGER AMONG MALES, OLDER PEOPLE, ROMAN CATHOLICS, THE LESS EDUCATED, CERTAIN OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, AND PEOPLE WITH RIGHT-WING POLITICAL BELIEFS, AMONG OTHERS. PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES SEEM TO INFLUENCE ATTITUDES TO THE DEATH PENALTY, WITH A HIGHER DEGREE OF SUPPORT TO BE FOUND AMONG AUTHORITARIAN, DOGMATIC, PREJUDICED PERSONALITIES. SUPPORT ALSO SEEMS TO BE HIGH AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE INSECURE, WHO WERE BROUGHT UP STRICTLY, AND WHO ARE MALADJUSTED SOCIALLY. ATTITUDES TO THE DEATH PENALTY DO NOT SEEM TO BE A FUNCTION OF VIOLENT CRIME RATES, OF THE SUBJECTIVE ESTIMATES OF THE INCIDENCE OF VIOLENT CRIMES, OR OF THE DEGREE OF FEAR OF CRIME. FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO MEASURE THE STRENGTH, INTENSITY, SALIENCY, AND STABILITY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE DEATH PENALTY, TO UNRAVEL THEIR SOCIOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS, TO FIND THE RIGHT EXPLANATIONS FOR SUCH ATTITUDES, AND TO INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY AND MEANS OF CHANGING THOSE ATTITUDES. CHANGING PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO THE DEATH PENALTY DEPENDS ON HOW DEEP-SEATED THOSE ATTITUDES ARE. IT SEEMS DIFFICULT, HOWEVER, TO CHANGE THOSE ATTITUDES SIMPLY BY MEANS OF FACTUAL INFORMATION. PUBLIC OPINION IS NEITHER AN ADEQUATE NOR A SOLID BASIS FOR POLICIES OF SOCIAL CONTROL. THUS, AN UNINFORMED OR IRRATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR REINSTATING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CANADA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SUPPORTING TABLES ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).