NCJ Number
145923
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 59-86
Date Published
1993
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study examines the relationship between certain religious beliefs of fundamentalist and evangelical Protestantism and support for capital punishment for both adults and juveniles.
Abstract
Data were collected as part of the 13th annual Oklahoma City Survey conducted by the University of Oklahoma Department of Sociology in spring 1991. The survey drew a random sample of 395 adults (18 and older) from the R.L. Polk Directory for the city. A total of 362 subjects were eventually used in the study. Respondents were questioned about their level of support or nonsupport for the execution of juveniles and adults convicted of first-degree murder. The survey also solicited data on subjects' religiosity, adherence to a literal interpretation of the Bible, view of God as punitive, and a "born-again" religious experience. Some control variables were included. The analysis determined bivariate correlations among all items. Religious participation and religious identity did not correlate with support for capital punishment, either for juveniles or for adults. In contrast, Biblical literalness and a punitive image of God correlated positively and significantly with support for the death penalty for both juveniles and adults. The born-again dichotomy had a significant positive correlation with support for the juvenile death penalty but not with support for the adult death penalty. The author suggests additional research on links between specific religious beliefs and support for various correctional sanctions. 82 references and 2 tables