Summary: Gallup Reports Drop in Death Penalty Support Led by Younger Generations
A recent analysis of aggregated data from Gallup’s annual Crime survey demonstrates that public support for the death penalty has dropped to 53% — the lowest its been since the 1970s. This decline can be largely attributed to younger generations who are far less likely than older generations to favor the death penalty for people who have been convicted of murder.
The analysis defines generations as the following:
- Generation Z, 1997-2012
- Millennials, 1981-1996
- Generation X, 1965-1980
- Baby Boomers, 1946-1964
- Silent and Greatest Generations, 1945 and before
Two decades ago, all of these generation groups supported the death penalty at a rate that was within just three points of the national average, which at the time was 66%. As younger generations have entered into adulthood, they have broken away from this average, supporting the death penalty less and less.
Support is greater in these groups among those who identify as Republican when compared to Independents, and especially when compared Democrats. Nonetheless, support has declined through the years across all political affiliations.
Gallup acknowledges that young generations’ exposure to the death penalty “has come when many states had moratoriums on the death penalty or repealed laws that allowed capital punishment.” There have also been numerous, high-profile cases of innocence and exoneration during this time period which may contribute to public opinion.
In summary, younger generations of Americans hold different views than their parents and their grandparents. This is noticeably.
Read the full report here: https://news.gallup.com/poll/653429/drop-death-penalty-support-led-younger-generations.aspx
