Views of administration of capital punishment by age, education, and race and ethnicity
% who say …
* Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Views of administration of capital punishment by age, education, and race and ethnicity
% who say …
| Group | The death penalty is morally wrong, even when someone commits a crime like murder | When someone commits a crime like murder, the death penalty is morally justified |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 28 | 68 |
| White | 25 | 73 |
| Hispanic | 33 | 61 |
| Black | 41 | 55 |
| Asian* | 26 | 72 |
| Ages 18-29 | 36 | 63 |
| 30-49 | 28 | 68 |
| 50-64 | 25 | 71 |
| 65+ | 26 | 70 |
| Postgraduate | 40 | 57 |
| College graduate | 33 | 66 |
| Some college | 25 | 72 |
| HS or less | 24 | 71 |
| Group | The death penalty DOES NOT deter people from committing serious crimes | The death penalty DOES deter people from committing serious crimes |
| Total | 59 | 39 |
| White | 59 | 40 |
| Hispanic | 58 | 38 |
| Black | 70 | 27 |
| Asian* | 43 | 54 |
| Ages 18-29 | 53 | 46 |
| 30-49 | 61 | 37 |
| 50-64 | 59 | 37 |
| 65+ | 60 | 37 |
| Postgraduate | 65 | 34 |
| College graduate | 61 | 37 |
| Some college | 60 | 38 |
| HS or less | 54 | 43 |
| Group | Black people are more likely than White people to be sentenced to the death penalty for committing similar crimes | White people and Black people are equally likely to be sentenced to the death penalty for committing similar crimes |
| Total | 49 | 48 |
| White | 40 | 58 |
| Hispanic | 56 | 40 |
| Black | 85 | 13 |
| Asian* | 59 | 36 |
| Ages 18-29 | 58 | 41 |
| 30-49 | 49 | 48 |
| 50-64 | 45 | 51 |
| 65+ | 47 | 51 |
| Postgraduate | 61 | 37 |
| College graduate | 57 | 41 |
| Some college | 46 | 51 |
| HS or less | 43 | 54 |
| Group | There is some risk that an innocent person will be put to death | There are adequate safeguards to ensure that no innocent person will be put to death |
| Total | 73 | 25 |
| White | 70 | 28 |
| Hispanic | 74 | 21 |
| Black | 82 | 16 |
| Asian* | 70 | 27 |
| Ages 18-29 | 78 | 21 |
| 30-49 | 74 | 23 |
| 50-64 | 69 | 28 |
| 65+ | 70 | 28 |
| Postgraduate | 80 | 18 |
| College graduate | 75 | 25 |
| Some college | 73 | 25 |
| HS or less | 68 | 28 |
* Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. No answer responses are not shown.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
