---
title: "Support the Death Penalty"
description: "That's the number of Americans who support the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, somewhat fewer than in the late 1990s, but little changed since 2001."
date: "2007-06-20"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2007/06/20/support-the-death-penalty/"
---

# Support the Death Penalty

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults (64%) support the imposition of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder — somewhat fewer than in the late 1990s, but little changed since 2001. Currently, 29% oppose execution in these circumstances. Support is higher among men (68%) than women (60%), and is substantially higher among whites (69%) than among African Americans (44%) and Hispanics (45%). More Republicans than Democrats favor the death penalty, but even among the latter, a small majority does so (56%, vs. 78% for Republicans).[Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/434/trends-in-political-values-and-core-attitudes-1987-2007)