---
title: 'PUBLIC OPINION: Boston Residents Favor Life Without Parole for Suspect in Marathon Bombing'
description: 'A recent poll sponsored by the Boston Globe found that a significant majority of Boston residents favor life without parole over the death penalty for…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/public-opinion-boston-residents-favor-life-without-parole-for-suspect-in-marathon-bombing'
section: news
date: '2013-09-19T17:57:52-04:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:36:04-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

! A recent poll sponsored by the *Boston Globe* found that a significant majority of **Boston** residents favor life without parole over the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bombing suspect. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of respondents supported a sentence of life without parole if Tsarnaev is convicted, compared with only 33% who favored the death penalty. Sixty-one (61) percent of Democrats and 49% of Republicans (a plurality) supported a sentence of life without parole. The option was endorsed by men and women, across all educational levels, and among white, black, and Hispanic respondents. The poll was conducted September 5−12 by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. Although the death penalty is not available under **Massachusetts** law, Tsarnaev is facing federal charges. No decision has been made yet on whether the government will seek the death penalty.

(B. MacQuarrie, "[In Globe poll, most favor life term for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev](https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/09/15/most-boston-residents-favor-life-without-parole-for-tsarnaev-convicted-poll-shows/Ur6ivWIUiYCpEZLXBApHDL/story.html?event=event12)," Boston Globe, September 16, 2013). See **[Public Opinion](/public-opinion-about-death-penalty?did=209&scid=23)** and **[Federal Death Penalty](/federal-death-penalty?scid=29&did=147)**.