NCJ Number
121627
Editor(s)
P Wilson
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Although public opinion polls generally indicate that a majority of the community favor capital punishment, it must be kept in mind that, in practice, the death penalty is often administered capriciously; there is always a possibility that an innocent person will be executed.
Abstract
Australia has abolished the death penalty, but the debate over its use has not abated. Opinion polls have produced mixed results because of different wording of questions and in the type and timing of surveys. The effects of capital punishment on crime rates appears to be insignificant. Juries appear to be reluctant to convict for capital offenses if there is a death penalty. The availability of capital punishment also appears to attract a greater incident of insanity pleas. A great percentage of murders both in the United States of America and in Australia arise out of domestic arguments and these events are seldom considered to be affected by the existence of capital punishment. Since the recidivism rate for murder is so low, it seems that life imprisonment would be a sufficient incapacitant for murderers. The severity and irreversibility of the death penalty necessitates very compelling arguments to justify the reintroduction of capital punishment. 22 notes, 4 tables, 2 figures.