NCJ Number
202898
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2003 Pages: 263-275
Date Published
2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined the characteristics of death penalty proponents who support the option of life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP) and then compared them with death penalty proponents who do not support the option of LWOP.
Abstract
Previous research has provided information about the characteristics of those who support the death penalty. However, little is known about death penalty supporters who also support the option of LWOP. In order to learn more about the population of death penalty supporters who also support LWOP, the author completed telephone interviews with a random sample of 556 adults residing in Orange County, CA. The interview instrument was a five point Likert scale measuring attitudes toward the death penalty for adult and juvenile offenders. Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that over 45 percent of those supporting the death penalty viewed LWOP as a viable alternative to the death penalty. Few differences were found between the group of death penalty proponents who supported LWOP and those who did not support LWOP. The one main characteristic that distinguished the two groups was income; those with higher incomes tended to oppose the LWOP option. This finding is consistent with previous research that has found that income is a predictor of punitiveness; the higher the income, the more support for the death penalty. The findings have implications for those seeking to abolish the death penalty in that nearly 45 percent of those who support the death penalty also support LWOP. Tables, references