The Times Poll : 75% Support Death Penalty in California

A huge majority of Californians support the death penalty, and their feelings are so unshakable that most say they would not change their minds even if an innocent person were executed or if their own mothers ended up on Death Row, the Los Angeles Times Poll has found.

In a detailed, 75-question survey of public attitudes on the death penalty, most of those polled said they believe that such non-punitive steps as job training, better schools and drug rehabilitation would do more than capital punishment to reduce crime.

But by a 75%-16% margin, those surveyed said they still favored the death penalty, with 55% responding they favor it “very strongly.” Only 9% said they oppose it “very strongly.”

The poll divided Californians into groups by age, employment, religion, political affiliation, race, education and locality. And in every category the majority supported capital punishment.

Support was strongest among people who own guns for purposes of self-defense, with 88% in favor; among registered Republicans, with 87% endorsing it, and among members of labor unions, with 86% in support. Even those who identified themselves as liberals favored the death penalty 64% to 32%.

As for the sexes, 80% of the men and 70% of the women favored the death penalty.

Support for capital punishment was softest among blacks--50% favored it and 40% opposed it--and among people earning $10,000 a year or less, with 58% in support.

Those who said they favored the death penalty were asked, “Suppose it were proved that a mistake had been made and an innocent person had been executed?” By a margin of 63% to 28%, respondents said they still would support the death penalty.

Supporters also were asked to ponder a case in which their mother, father, sister or brother was convicted of a capital crime. By 73% to 17%, respondents said they still would favor the death penalty.

Opponents’ Responses

Although vastly outnumbered, Californians who opposed executions were also unshakable in their views.

Opponents were asked, “Suppose new evidence showed that the death penalty does act as a deterrent to murder or that it does lower the murder rate?” By 54% to 37%, they said they still would be against capital punishment.

They also were asked to consider an instance of a murderer being released from prison and committing another slaying. By 53% to 42%, respondents said they still would oppose capital punishment.

Critics claim that the death penalty has been applied unevenly. The poll found that many Californians agree.

Thirty-one percent believed that blacks were more likely than whites to receive the death penalty for the same crime, with only 3% saying that whites were more likely to face execution. However, 61% said that skin color was irrelevant.

Fifty-one percent said they believe that the poor were more likely to be sentenced to death than were wealthy people. Only 4% felt that death sentences would fall disproportionately on middle-income people, and a mere 3% said they were more likely to be applied to the rich. Another 38% said they believed income was not a factor.

Views on Discrimination

Men are more likely to be sentenced to death, 55% of those polled said. Only 2% thought women were. Another 38% said gender was not a factor.

“Even if they are for it, Californians are perfectly willing to believe the death penalty discriminates,” concluded I. A. Lewis, director of the Times Poll.

Asked what they believe is the most humane method of execution, 56% said lethal injection. Next came the gas chamber, 12%, which is the method now awaiting 167 men on San Quentin’s Death Row. By a 2-1 margin, those polled said they would not participate in an execution.

By and large, Californians appear in step with the death penalty law enacted in 1978. The statute provides for execution in murders with “special circumstances”--multiple killings and those committed in connection with other felonies or those involving torture or murder for hire.

Sixty-five percent of those responding agreed that the death penalty should be reserved for cases involving special circumstances. Only 28% said that all murderers should be executed.

The poll listed five possible steps that could be taken to combat crime, and the death penalty was the least favored. Ninety percent of those polled agreed that job training would help bring down crime, 83% said better schools, 76% cited drug rehabilitation programs and 73% favored more police officers. But 68% said the death penalty would help reduce crime.

Under the direction of Lewis, the survey of 1,568 people in the state was conducted by telephone and completed just before the June 14 TWA hijacking. The margin of error is 3% plus or minus.

PUNISHMENT BY DEATH? The Los Angeles Times Poll telephoned 1,568 Californians between June 8 and 12 to ask what crimes should be punished by execution.

Don’t Crime Yes No Know Espionage 63% 28% 9% Assassination or attempt on public official 55% 32% 13% Terrorism 50% 35% 15% Kidnaping for ransom involving bodily harm 49% 43% 8% Sexual abuse of a child 39% 52% 9% Rape 28% 61% 11% Negligent drunk driving resulting in death 22% 68% 10% Airplane hijacking 22% 68% 10%

DEATH PENALTY ARGUMENTS The Los Angeles Times Poll asked supporters and opponents of the death penalty to review common arguments concerning capital punishment and to judge them good or bad. Here are their responses, in percentage: SUPPORTERS 1. Some crimes are so awful that committing them revokes all human rights, including the right to life. Good 86 Bad 11 Don’t know 3 2. The death penalty prevents the murderer from being paroled and endangering society again. Good 86 Bad 13 Don’t know 1 3. The death penalty upholds our system of justice and maintains public confidence that serious crimes will not go without serious punishment. Good 79 Bad 18 Don’t know 3 4. The death penalty is the only punishment equal to the crime of taking a life. Good 78 Bad 19 Don’t know 3 5. The death penalty discourages people from committing serious crimes. Good 76 Bad 21 Don’t know 3 6. The death penalty affirms the value that society places on life. Good 71 Bad 23 Don’t know 6 7. The death penalty is society’s way of repaying the criminal for what has been done to the victim and the victim’s family. Good 71 Bad 27 Don’t know 2 8. The public should not be taxed to keep the worst criminals alive. Good 70 Bad 28 Don’t know 2 OPPONENTS Opponents of the death penalty were asked to review arguments against capital punishment and judge them good or bad. Here are their responses: 1. It is wrong to take a life and the government should not be involved in premeditated homicide. Good 75 Bad 19 Don’t know 6 2. The death penalty cannot be reversed in the event a person later was found innocent. Good 72 Bad 23 Don’t know 5 3. The death penalty serves no social purpose because it cannot be shown to deter criminals. Good 66 Bad 31 Don’t know 3 4. The death penalty is applied unevenly; it discriminates against poor people and minorities. Good 64 Bad 33 Don’t know 3 5. Capital punishment degrades and dehumanizes society. Good 60 Bad 32 Don’t know 8 6. The death penalty is cruel and inhuman because of long delays before the sentence is carried out. Good 49 Bad 46 Don’t know 5 7. Capital punishment cases consume too much court time and money at the expense of other cases. Good 48 No 48 Don’t know 4