NCJ Number
127433
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 14 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (Spring/Winter 1990) Pages: 239-260
Date Published
1990
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of a survey of 163 member nations of the United Nations regarding their use of capital punishment between 1980-1985.
Abstract
The results of the survey indicate that 126 (77 percent) of the nations have a death penalty. The 22 nations that executed averaged 4.2 executions per year, whereas the average official executions per year for all the nations participating in the survey was 1.57. South Africa reported 111 executions and Mauritius 25 per year for 1980-85. The average age for execution for the 42 reporting nations was 18, and the United States was the only nation to report an execution below 16 years of age. The survey revealed hanging (57 percent), shooting (24 percent), and beheading (15 percent) as prevalent methods of capital punishment. Mental illness, juveniles, and pregnant women were cited as reasons for exclusion from the death penalty. Only 7 nations out of the 163 reported open or public executions. The report also explored differences between the death penalty and non-penalty nations through an analysis of variance for various demographic data collected from different sources. 7 tables and 23 references (Author abstract modified)