Opinions on Sentencing Offenders to Death: A Policy Capturing Technique

• In Event: Capital Punishment in the United States

Abstract

The study of individual views on the use of the death penalty in the United States for criminal sentencing has received massive amounts of attention over many decades. However, there are very few studies that address if individuals would choose the use of the death penalty for various crimes that are considered non-death eligible. This gap in the literature makes it difficult to understand how we feel about the use of the death penalty, and if we would prefer the use of the death penalty for violent and nonviolent crimes that are considered non-death eligible. This study utilizes a policy capturing technique with 2021 survey data of university students to identify their attitudes and opinions on the use of the death penalty for various violent and nonviolent crimes that are considered death-eligible and non-death eligible. We conclude with implications for policy and theory.

Authors

• Jennifer Beatty, Iowa State University

• Aaron Jencks, Iowa State University