Citation

Boots DP, Cochran JK, Heide KM. J. Crim. Justice 2003; 31(6): 553-565.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2003.08.003

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study utilized the factorial survey design, a quasi-experimental approach, in an attempt to measure respondent's capital punishment preferences regarding juvenile, the mentally incompetent, and the mentally retarded offenders. The findings indicated that respondents were significantly less likely to prefer capital punishment over alternative sentencing options. Moreover, the influence aggravating and mitigating circumstances such as the offender's age, mental capacity, prior record, and death-eligibility were found to strongly affect the public's death penalty preferences. The substantive, methodological, and public policy implications of this study are discussed.