Pew: Most Americans favor death penalty for those convicted of murder

About two-thirds of Americans support the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Aug. 6. 

The poll of 3,554 U.S. adults, conducted July 6-12, found that 66% favor capital punishment in murder cases, with 30% strongly favoring it and 36% somewhat favoring it. Of the one-third, or 32%, who oppose it, 13% expressed strong opposition and 20% somewhat opposed it.

Support has increased 6 percentage points since April 2021, when 60% of Americans favored the death penalty. The latest figure is roughly in line with levels recorded in 2019 and 2020.

In a separate question, 68% said the death penalty is morally justified when someone commits a crime such as murder, while 28% said it is morally wrong even in such cases.

Respondents were more skeptical about whether the death penalty prevents crime. Fifty-nine percent said it does not deter people from committing serious crimes, compared with 39% who said it does.

The findings also showed broad concern about wrongful executions. Nearly three-quarters of Americans, or 73%, said there is some risk that an innocent person will be put to death. One-quarter said adequate safeguards exist to prevent that outcome.

Americans were nearly evenly divided over whether black and white defendants are equally likely to receive death sentences for similar crimes. Forty-nine percent said they believe black people are more likely than white people to receive the death penalty for similar crimes, while 48% said the two groups are equally likely to receive it.

Views differed sharply along party lines, with Republicans more likely to support the death penalty than Democrats. According to the poll, 84% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents favor the death penalty, including 47% who strongly favor it. Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents were nearly evenly split, with 51% supporting capital punishment and 48% opposing it. 

The parties also differed over the death penalty’s morality and effectiveness. Eighty-five percent of Republicans said the death penalty is morally justified for crimes such as murder, compared with 55% of Democrats. Fifty-five percent of Republicans said they believe it deters serious crime, while 25% of Democrats agreed. 

Still, majorities of both parties acknowledged the possibility of a wrongful execution. Eighty-four percent of Democrats and 60% of Republicans said there is some risk that an innocent person could be put to death. 

Support also varied by race, ethnicity, education, and age. Seventy percent of white adults, 65% of Asian adults, and 62% of Hispanic adults favor the death penalty. Black adults were divided, with 49% in favor and 48% opposed.

Adults with less formal education were more likely to support capital punishment. Seventy-one percent of those with a high school education or less said they favor it, compared with 52% of those with postgraduate degrees.