Research Note | American Attitudes on the Death Penalty

A strong majority (67%) of Americans currently favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. According to surveys conducted between April and July 2011, a majorities of virtually every demographic group favor capital punishment. There is also a notable intensity gap in the general population. Three times as many Americans say they strongly favor the death penalty as say they strongly oppose it (33% vs. 11% respectively). Majorities of… more