Legal Commentary

U.S. Executions Down 12%, Support Drops Among Americans

By Jeralyn

The Death Penalty Information Center has released its 2010 report on capital punishment in America. Executions are down by 12% and according to a poll conducted by , a majority of Americans now favor alternative punishment.

Executions dropped by 12% compared with 2009, and by more than 50% since 1999. The number of new death sentences was about the same as in 2009, the lowest number in 34 years.

In a recent national poll conducted by Lake
Research Partners, 61% of U.S. voters chose various alternative sentences over the death penalty as the proper punishment for murder. Only 33% chose the death penalty.

The poll results are here. The cost-saving argument is making headway. "A strong majority of respondents (65%) would favor replacing the death penalty with life with no possibility of parole if the money saved were used to fund crime prevention programs."

The death penalty will take a holiday for the remainder of 2010. No more executions are scheduled this year.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 21, 2010 (boomark / email).