Support Still Strong as Execution in California Nears, Poll Shows

Californians continue to be staunch advocates of the death penalty as the state prepares to carry out its first execution in 23 years, according to the Los Angeles Times Poll.

A statewide survey last week of 2,058 adults found that 77% “favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder.” What’s more, 56% favor it “strongly.” Only 15% oppose capital punishment, while 8% have no opinion.

This is practically the same sentiment that The Times Poll found in statewide surveys during 1988 and 1985.

In the latest poll, virtually every socioeconomic, political, religious and racial group favored capital punishment by at least 2 to 1, and usually by more than 3 to 1.

The margin of error for the telephone survey, conducted over a six-day period ending last Thursday, is three percentage points in either direction.

A separate poll, released last week by Amnesty International and the ACLU, found that while there is overwhelming backing for the death penalty among Californians, there is also support for alternatives. While nearly 80% favor the death penalty, this survey found, 67% said they would prefer the alternative that murderers be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and be required to pay cash restitution to their victim’s family.

The latter poll was conducted in December by the San Francisco-based Field Institute.