NCJ Number
169807
Date Published
1996
Length
47 pages
Annotation
This report analyzes different countries' use of capital punishment, trends in its use, and implementation of offender safeguards recommended by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Abstract
The analysis used data from a survey that covered the years 1989-93 and from analysis of criminological research. The results were used to group countries into three categories. Those that did not contemplate the death penalty in their laws were regarded as abolitionist. Those that retained capital punishment for ordinary crimes but had not executed anyone during the last 10 years or more were considered abolitionist de facto. All the others were defined as retentionist in that capital punishment existed and was used. Results revealed that 43 of the 69 countries that responded to the survey were abolitionist. Twenty-six were retentionist, although 9 of these were considered abolitionist de facto. Compared with previous surveys, a lower proportion of all countries responding to this survey were retentionist. Since 1989, 25 countries have abolished the death penalty, 23 of them for all crimes whether in peacetime or in war. Responses varied regarding the implementation of safeguards for the protection of the rights of persons facing the death penalty and indicated that little if any action has been taken to give the safeguards prominence or to communicate them to those who might be concerned in capital cases. Appended tables and additional results