New Gallup Poll Results

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.

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