For the period 1977–1992, the number of homicides in a state tended to decrease more often after a year of no executions than after a year with one or more executions, the opposite of a deterrent effect.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bureau of Justice Statistics.Sourcebook of criminal justice statistics. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, annual.
2.
LesterD.Executions as a deterrent to homicide. Psychological Reports, 1979, 44, 562.
3.
LesterD.The death penalty. (2nd ed.) Springfield, IL: Thomas, 1998.
4.
National Center for Health Statistics.Vital statistics of the United States. Rockville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, annual.
