NCJ Number
152518
Journal
Journal of Social Issues Volume: 50 Issue: 2 Dated: special issue (Summer 1994) Pages: 53-74
Date Published
1994
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This review of the empirical literature on murder, capital punishment, and deterrence suggests that there is a large body of evidence regarding the issues and that studies indicate a rather consistent pattern of nondeterrence.
Abstract
The central focus of deterrence and death penalty research has been to examine the effect of capital punishment on the general homicide rate. With few exceptions, criminologists have ignored the possibility that capital punishment may be more or less effective in preventing different types of killing. In addition, many investigations are limited because they rely on the general homicide rate as the criterion variable, even though both legally and theoretically different types of murder may be differentially subject to deterrence. To demonstrate how deterrence investigations may benefit from examining different homicide types, the authors conducted a monthly time-series analysis of the possible deterrent effect of capital punishment, execution levels, and amount and type of television news coverage on police killings during the 1976-1989 period. During the study period, 1,204 law enforcement officers were killed feloniously. The analysis found no consistent evidence that capital punishment influenced police killings. Therefore, police officers did not appear to be afforded an added measure of protection against homicide by capital punishment. The authors recommend caution in concluding that capital punishment has a deterrent effect on police killings, in part because deterrence effects may be offset by brutalizing effects. 58 references and 4 tables