Tracing Public Support for the Death Penalty in a Red State

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

In 2015, Nebraska became the first “red state” to abolish the death penalty. This event reflected a broader trend in conservative politics in which the costs of tough-on-crime policies are being re-evaluated. The Nebraska experience, however, also features entrenchment by pro-death penalty groups, who successfully petitioned for a ballot referendum. On both sides, the battle for public support continues. Using three waves of an annual statewide survey, we traced the trends in support for the death penalty, support for alternatives, and the “unsures,” the group whose opinions may be swayed. We examined how people’s beliefs about crime, the government’s role in controlling crime, and media consumption distinguished among these three groups.
Although support for the death penalty hovered around 50% over the three waves, there was variation in the alternative and unsure groups. People who distrust the government on crime were more likely to support the death penalty, as were people who think the death penalty is applied fairly. Media consumption, particularly crime dramas and news viewing, also distinguished among the groups. However, this effect was variable across waves, suggesting that current events receiving attention in the media may influence people’s beliefs about crime and attitudes about the death penalty.

Authors

• Colleen Ray, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Lisa Kort-Butler, University of Nebraska - Lincoln