Murder Capital Punishment And Deterrence- A Review Of The Evide.pdf

Cleveland State University

EngagedScholarship@CSU

Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications Sociology & Criminology Department

Summer 1994

Murder, Capital Punishment, and Deterrence: A Review of the

Evidence and an Examination of Police Killings.

William C. Bailey

Cleveland State University, [email protected]

Ruth Peterson

The Ohio State University, [email protected]

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Original Citation

Bailey, W. C., & Peterson, R. D. (1994). Murder, capital punishment, and deterrence: A review of the

evidence and an examination of police killings. Journal Of Social Issues, 50(2), 53-74.

Repository Citation

Bailey, William C. and Peterson, Ruth, "Murder, Capital Punishment, and Deterrence: A Review of the Evidence and

an Examination of Police Killings." (1994). Sociology & Criminology Faculty Publications. 33.

https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clsoc_crim_facpub/33

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Murder, Capital Punishment, and Deterrence:

A Review of the Evidence and an Examination

of Police Killings

William C. Bailey

CI~v~land SID/~ Uniwrsiry

Ruth D. Peterson

Ohio S'QIt U,,;v~r5ity

This papu reviews and assuus the empirical lituature on murdu, capital

punishment, and deterrence. Thue is a large body of evidence regarding these

issues, with studies yidding a rather consisunI palfern of nonJeterrenu. How￾ever, most investigations are limited becauu they rely upon the genual homicide

rate as the criterion variable. although both legally and theoretically. different

types 0/ murder may be differentially subject 10 deterrence. As an example of how

deterrence investigations may benefit from examining different types of homicide,

we conduct a monthly lime-series analysis of the possible dettrrent effect of the

provision for capital punishment , levels of execution, and the amount and type of

television news coverage executions receive on overall and different types of

police killings for /976-/989. The analysis reveals no evidence that police are

afforded an added measure of protection against dealh by capital punishment.

Academics and others have long debated whether capital punishment is

effective in deterring murder. In this analysis we (I) assess the state of knowl·

edge regarding murder, capital punishment and deterrence; (2) explicate the need

to consider different types of homicide in ex amin ing the deterrence question; and

(3) examine the possible deterrent effect of capital punishment on lethal assaults

against police.

Corrupondence n::aan:ling this anic le should be addressed to William C. Bailey. Graduate

College. Cleveland State University. Cleveland, OH 44 IIS.

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