---
title: 'New Gallup Poll Results'
description: '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…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/new-gallup-poll-results'
section: news
date: '2004-06-10T23:20:15-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:53:59-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

!   !  

 **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](/article.php?scid=23&did=1029)   
 [Read DPIC's Summary](/article.php?did=1019&scid=64)   
 [ DPIC's Public Opinion Page](/public-opinion-about-death-penalty?did=209&scid=23)**