NCJ Number
61250
Journal
Social Forces Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 194-211
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
FBI DATA ON VIOLENT CRIMES AND OPINION SURVEYS FROM 1972 TO 1976 WERE USED TO EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME RATES AND PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
Abstract
PREVIOUS RESEARCH HAS REPORTED INCREASING SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SINCE 1966, BUT HAS NOT ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THIS INCREASE. THE PRESENT STUDY USED THE ANNUAL GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER (NORC) FROM 1972 TO 1976, AS WELL AS FBI DATA ON VIOLENT CRIMES, IN A LOGIT REGRESSION MODEL. RESULTS SHOWED A STRONG, POSITIVE, NONLINEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND CRIME RATES ACROSS REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. CHANGES IN ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DEATH PENALTY DID NOT RELATE TO PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AND PERSONAL VICTIMIZATIONS. THE GROWING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BEGAN ABOUT THREE YEARS AFTER RELATIVELY LARGE INCREASES IN THE OFFICIAL CRIME RATE. MEDIA COVERAGE OF VIOLENT CRIME PROBABLY INFLUENCED PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS. IN ADDITION, CRIME IN THE STREETS, AND LAW AND ORDER WERE 1968 ELECTION CAMPAIGN ISSUES. THE RESULTING ATMOSPHERE INTENSIFIED PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CRIME, HARDENED ATTITUDES TOWARD CRIMINALS, AND PRODUCED GREATER DEMAND FOR HARSH PENALTIES. THE INCREASING SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD THEREFORE BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF A MORE GENERAL LAW AND ORDER SYNDROME, BUT MAY BE ONLY A FLUCTUATION INTERRUPTING A LONG TERM DOWNWARD TREND IN SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. FIGURES, A TABLE, FOOTNOTES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)