NCJ Number
104000
Journal
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Newsletter Issue: 12 and 13 Dated: (November 1986) Pages: 54-61
Date Published
1986
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The characteristics of research activity in the area of capital punishment were examined in a review of 254 studies published internationally between 1979 and 1983.
Abstract
Of all published work, 70 percent emanated from the United States, and 85 percent were monocultural, focusing on problems specific to one country. Of all works, 67 focused on general debate over whether the death penalty should be abolished or retained, 27 examined the application of the death penalty, 82 dealt with legal issues, 20 considered attitudes toward capital punishment, and 45 measured deterrent effects. An additional 13 examined the characteristics and treatment of death row inmates. The majority of works, excepting most involving debate, took a neutral position with regard to capital punishment. In those expressing a nonneutral position, the abolitionist perspective was disproportionately more common. Works in the area of legal issues generally took a legal analysis, normative approach; while the majority of other studies used behavioral science approaches and methods. Results suggest that while the debate on whether to abolish or retain capital punishment continues to follow traditional lines, it is becoming increasingly permeated by evidence from legal and social data-based analyses. 1 table.