NCJ Number
100228
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1985) Pages: 567-578
Date Published
1985
Length
12 pages
Annotation
An examination of the cases and characteristics of persons executed between 1977 and 1984 tested whether race, age, criminal history, execution offense, and questions of guilt affected public sentiment about the death penalty.
Abstract
Study findings reveal that between 1977 and 1984, only 32 persons were executed in 11 States; yet there were more than 1,000 inmates on death rows in 33 of the 38 States having capital punishment. Because of the heinous nature of the crimes of those executed, their criminal backgrounds, lengthy appeals, and absence of controversy about their guilt, none of the executions has aroused mass sentiment against the death penalty. The executions have not yielded any empirical evidence to fuel the arguments of either the proponents or opponents of capital punishment. There is no evidence that the executions had a significant deterrent effect, but neither was there reason to believe innocent persons were executed or that the death penalty was selectively applied by race. Tabular data and 23 references.