LSU Survey Results
Capital Punishment in Louisiana
Among those in our studio audience, there was not much movement in attitudes regarding capital punishment. The number who opposed the death penalty increased, but, for the most part, our audience seems to have come away from their discussion with more – rather than less – confidence in the system as it currently exists.
Do you favor or oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder?
% Before % After Favor 33.3 33.3 Oppose 33.3 66.7 Don't know / Not available 33.3 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 In your opinion, is the death penalty imposed too often, about the right amount, or not often enough?
% Before % After Too often 33.3 50.0 About the right amount 0.0 50.0 Not often enough 16.7 0.0 Don't know / Not available 50.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Generally speaking, do you believe the death penalty is applied fairly or unfairly in Louisiana today?
% Before % After Fairly 33.3 66.7 Unfairly 33.3 33.3 Don't know / Not available 33.3 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Do you think that innocent people are sometimes convicted of murder, or would you say this never happens?
% Before % After Sometimes happens 100.0 100.0 Never happens 0.0 0.0 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Do you feel that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to the commitment of murder -- that it lowers the murder rate -- or not?
% Before % After Deterrent 33.3 33.3 Not a deterrent 66.7 66.7 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Some people say there should be a halt in all executions in this country while a commission studies whether the death penalty has or has not been administered fairly. Others say there already are enough safeguards to prevent unfair or mistaken executions. What do you think? Would you support or oppose a halt in executions while this issue is studied?
% Before % After Support a halt 83.3 66.7 Oppose a halt 16.7 33.3 Don't know / Not available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 In general, do you think that death row inmates are given too much help and opportunity to appeal their cases and try to prove their innocence, or are inmates not given sufficient help and opportunity to appeal their cases and prove their innocence?
% Before % After Given too much help 66.7 50.0 Not given enough help 16.7 50.0 Don't know / Not available 16.7 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 Would you say the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all the people?
% Before % After Few Big Interests 83.3 66.7 Benefit of All 16.7 33.3 Don't Know / Not Available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0 How much attention do you feel the government pays to what the people think when it decides what to do -- a good deal, some, or not much?
% After Good Deal 0.0 0.0 Some 50.0 66.7 Not Much 50.0 33.3 Don't Know / Not Available 0.0 0.0 Refused 0.0 0.0
Some questions and comments may be included in the program.
