Public backing for capital punishment in the United States has dipped to its lowest in 40 years, according to a new report, although a small majority of Americans still believe in it.
According to a study released by the Pew Research Center, just 56% of U.S. citizens support the death penalty — a decline of 6% since 2011. During the 1980s and 1990s, in comparison, that number often crossed 70%.
The study, which surveyed 1,500 adults across the United States, found that the decline has come mainly among Democrats — 40% of Democrats support the death penalty while 56% oppose it, a sharp contrast from the 1996 survey which showed 71% of them for and just 25% against.
Overall, 71% of Americans say that the risk of an innocent person being put to death is high, and 61% say the death penalty does not deter individuals from committing serious crimes.
Support for the Death Penalty in America Has Hit a 40-year Low