NCJ Number
60398
Journal
American Journal of Sociology Volume: 84 Issue: 4 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 882-910
Date Published
1979
Length
29 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND THE LEVEL OF GUN OWNERSHIP ARE EXAMINED AS THEY RELATE TO THE HOMICIDE RATE.
Abstract
THE MODEL DEVELOPED TO EXAMINE THESE ISSUES IS FLEXIBLE REGARDING THE VARIABLES INCLUDED OR EXCLUDED IN THEIR EFFECT ON THE HOMICIDE RATE. THE MODEL IS CONSISTENT WITH INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY AND RESEARCH ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND FORMAL AND INFORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL. THE STUDY HAD TO BE DONE AT AN AGGREGATE LEVEL, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MEASURES OF THE SUBJECTIVELY PERCEIVED RISK OF LEGAL PUNISHMENT. THE GENERAL DETERRENCE HYPOTHESIS, WHICH RELATED THE PROBABILITIES OF ARREST AND CONVICTION FOR HOMICIDE AND THE FREQUENCY OF ACTS OF HOMICIDE, WAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED. CONTRARY TO THE FINDINGS OF LOGAN (1975), HOMICIDE IS APPARENTLY DETERRABLE BY LEGAL SANCTIONS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY DETERRED BY THE RARELY IMPOSED DEATH PENALTY. IMPRISONMENT WAS SHOWN TO HAVE AN INCAPACITATIVE EFFECT DISTINCT FROM DETERRENCE EFFECTS. THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY CONCERNING THE DEATH PENALTY AND ITS ALLEGED DETERRENT EFFECT CONTRADICT THOSE OF EHRLICH'S RECENT STUDY (1975). THAT PORTION OF THE INCREASE IN THE HOMICIDE RATE IN THE 1960'S WHICH EHRLICH'S MODEL ATTRIBUTES TO THE DECLINE IN EXECUTIONS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN CAUSED, INSTEAD, BY RAPID INCREASE IN THE STOCK OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS. EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS CONCERNING A CIRCULARITY OF GUN OWNERSHIP AND HOMICIDE, WITH HOMICIDE PUSHING UP GUN OWNERSHIP AND GUN OWNERSHIP INCREASING HOMICIDE. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)