NEW GALLUP POLL RESULTS
Over the years, support for the sentence of Life Without Parole as an alternative to the death penalty has steadily increased, to the point where now the country is evenly split on capital punishment. In 1994, only 32% favored Life, with 50% favoring death. In 2004, support for life without parole had grown to 46%.
In less than 20 years, public opinion regarding the deterrent effect of the death penalty — long the backbone of its support — has reversed itself. In 1986, 61% believed the punishment to be an effective deterrent. In 2004, 62% believed that the death penalty did not deter crime.
Read the Gallup Poll Press Release
Read DPIC’s Summary
DPIC’s Public Opinion Page
Over the years, support for the sentence of Life Without Parole as an alternative to the death penalty has steadily increased, to the point where now the country is evenly split on capital punishment. In 1994, only 32% favored Life, with 50% favoring death. In 2004, support for life without parole had grown to 46%.
In less than 20 years, public opinion regarding the deterrent effect of the death penalty — long the backbone of its support — has reversed itself. In 1986, 61% believed the punishment to be an effective deterrent. In 2004, 62% believed that the death penalty did not deter crime.
Read the Gallup Poll Press Release
Read DPIC’s Summary
DPIC’s Public Opinion Page
Citation Guide
- Death Penalty Information Center (2025, March 14). New Gallup Poll Results. Retrieved October 3, 2026, from https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-gallup-poll-results
- Death Penalty Information Center. “New Gallup Poll Results.” Last modified March 14, 2025. Accessed October 3, 2026. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-gallup-poll-results.
- Death Penalty Information Center. “New Gallup Poll Results.” Death Penalty Information Center, 14 Mar. 2025, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-gallup-poll-results. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.
