The aim of this paper is to describe to what extend the public opinion about capital punishment in the United States has changed and to outline the reasons for that. Based on the hypothesis that support has generally dropped, this paper provides an overview why and when support slowly started to decrease. The examinations are limited to approximately the last twenty-five years, and the three main chapters are structured according to the time periods of the then-ruling presidents. They respectively comprise information about the president’s death penalty policy, the changes in law, some incidents that have occurred, as well as the development in people’s attitude. Consequently, it can be concluded that more and more Americans oppose the death penalty as the system’s fallibility and inefficiency are becoming obvious. However, while moral positions have not changed significantly, the impossible flawlessness and expensive application of the death penalty triggered many shifts in opinion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. General Information
3. Americans’ Attitude in the Clinton Administration
3.1 Clinton’s Attitude Towards the Death Penalty
3.2 Changes in Law
3.2.1 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
3.2.2 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act
3.3.3 Reintroductions and Moratoriums
3.3 Incidents
3.3.1 Gary Graham
3.3.2 Ronnie Burrell
3.3.3 Brian Baldwin
3.3.4 Karla Faye Tucker
3.3.5 “Dead Man Walking”
3.3.6 Demand of the American Bar Association
4.4 Public Opinion on the Death Penalty
4. Americans’ Attitude in the Bush Administration
4.1 Bush’s Attitude Towards the Death Penalty
4.2 Changes in Law
4.3 Incidents
4.3.1 Timothy McVeigh
4.3.2 The Innocent Project and Curtis McCarty
4.3.3 The Death Row Ten
4.3.4 Lethal Injection Debate
4.4 Public Opinion on the Death Penalty
5. Americans’ Attitude in the Obama Administration
5.1 Obama’s Attitude Towards the Death Penalty
5.2 Changes in Law
5.3 Incidents
5.3.1 Glenn Ford
5.3.2 Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the Ongoing Lethal Injection Problem
5.3.3 Racial Disparity
5.3.4 “The 2% Death Penalty”
5.4 Public Opinion on the Death Penalty
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Key Topics
This paper examines the evolution of public opinion regarding capital punishment in the United States over the last twenty-five years, investigating the causes and contexts behind the shifting sentiments. By analyzing the tenures of the last three U.S. presidents, the research aims to determine whether a genuine change in attitude has occurred and what factors—such as innocence cases, legal reforms, and cost concerns—have influenced this transition.
- The influence of presidential policy on death penalty application.
- Key legal changes and milestones in capital punishment legislation.
- Influential incidents, exonerations, and cases of wrongful conviction.
- The impact of lethal injection debates on public support.
- The role of socioeconomic and racial factors in sentencing.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3.4 Karla Faye Tucker
In 1983, Karla Faye Tucker was arrested and sentenced to death for a double murder she committed with a pickaxe at the age of twenty three. During the time of the murder, she was under strong influence of drugs. Besides, her childhood had been very troubled. She started taking drugs when she was nine years old and got into prostitution five years later.
Throughout her time in prison, Tucker became very religious, married a priest and went through a complete change in personality. When she talked about her actions and her faith in an interview on TV, she received worldwide attention and support. In a letter, she asked George W. Bush, former governor of Texas, for a suspension of her punishment so that she could “reach out to others to make a positive difference in their lives." Bush denied her demand, and she was executed in 1998, even though the Pope and many people around the world pleaded for her mercy. Her case triggered discussions about gender equality in law, as she was one of the first women who was executed after the moratorium, and she was living proof that it is possible for criminals to change for the better. Her interview was also influential for some, as it is harder to support the death penalty if people get to know the person behind the crime.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the purpose of examining shifts in U.S. capital punishment opinion over the last 25 years, utilizing case studies and statistical data to support the investigation.
2. General Information: This chapter provides a historical context of the death penalty in the U.S., including its reintroduction in 1976 and general statistics on execution methods.
3. Americans’ Attitude in the Clinton Administration: The chapter explores the Clinton era's policies, significant legislative acts, and high-profile incidents that shaped public discourse during the 1990s.
4. Americans’ Attitude in the Bush Administration: This section covers George W. Bush’s approach to clemency, federal death penalty usage, and the growing debate over lethal injection and wrongful convictions.
5. Americans’ Attitude in the Obama Administration: The focus here is on the Obama administration's stance, ongoing issues regarding state-level abolition, and the increasing concerns over racial disparity and botched executions.
6. Conclusion: The author summarizes the findings, concluding that while support peaked in the 90s, it has steadily declined due to increased awareness of systemic errors, costs, and the availability of life without parole.
Keywords
Capital punishment, death penalty, public opinion, exoneration, wrongful conviction, lethal injection, Clinton administration, Bush administration, Obama administration, racial disparity, criminal justice, DNA testing, innocence, life imprisonment, reform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the trend of public opinion toward capital punishment in the United States over the last quarter-century, analyzing why and when support began to decrease.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study focuses on the intersection of presidential policy, legislative changes, high-profile criminal cases, and the evolving moral and economic arguments against the death penalty.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine whether a significant change in American attitudes toward the death penalty has occurred and to identify the primary causes—such as systemic fallibility—that have driven this shift.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a historical-analytical approach, reviewing opinion studies, legal developments, and case histories to interpret trends during the administrations of Clinton, Bush, and Obama.
What does the main body address?
The main body is structured chronologically by presidential tenure, detailing specific legal changes, notable incidents of injustice or exoneration, and the shifting public perception during each period.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include capital punishment, exoneration, wrongful conviction, lethal injection, and public opinion.
How did the Karla Faye Tucker case impact public opinion?
Her case sparked global attention and debates on gender equality and rehabilitation, challenging the public's perception of criminals by showcasing her personal transformation on death row.
Why has the "2% Death Penalty" report been significant?
It highlighted that a small minority of U.S. counties are responsible for the vast majority of executions, often at an enormous financial cost to taxpayers, which has fueled further criticism of the system's efficiency.
- Quote paper
- Magdalena Öttl (Author), 2016, The Changing Attitude Towards the Death Penalty in the US, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/956801
