--- title: 'PUBLIC OPINION: Pennsylvanians Prefer Life Sentences Over Death Penalty' description: 'A recent poll administered by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg revealed that more Pennsylvanians prefer a life sentence over the…' canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/public-opinion-pennsylvanians-prefer-life-sentences-over-death-penalty' section: news date: '2007-01-09T21:00:05-05:00' updated: '2025-03-14T14:24:32-04:00' source: 'Death Penalty Information Center' --- A recent poll administered by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg revealed that more Pennsylvanians prefer a life sentence over the death penalty for those convicted of murder. The poll found that only 42.9% of respondents chose the death penalty when also given the sentencing options of life with parole and life without parole. A total of 45% of respondents chose either life-without-parole (35.5%) or the sentence of life-with-parole (9.6%). Larry Frankel, legislative director for the ACLU, cited Pennsylvania's six death-row exonerations compared with three executions since 1976 as "proof the system doesn't work all the time." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jan. 10, 2007). Additional information about the poll may be found at . See **[Public Opinion](/public-opinion-about-death-penalty?did=209&scid=23)** and **[Life Without Parole](/life-without-parole?did=555&scid=59).**