Two-thirds of Americans back death penalty for murderers, poll shows
A new Pew poll finds that about 66% of U.S. adults support capital punishment for murder, while roughly 32% oppose it.
A Pew Research Center poll conducted in July surveyed 3,428 online participants and 126 phone respondents, showing that 66% of Americans support the death penalty for murder convictions, compared with 32% who oppose it. The researchers observed higher support among online respondents than those surveyed by phone. While the federal moratorium on executions, imposed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2021, remains in place, the Trump administration lifted a similar pause in early 2025, allowing federal death-penalty cases to proceed, though no federal executions have taken place since 2021.
State executions increased sharply, with 47 men put to death last year, almost twice the number recorded in 2024. The poll also found that 60% doubt the deterrent effect of capital punishment, and 73% acknowledge the risk of executing innocent people.
Why it matters
Public opinion on the death penalty influences policy decisions and legislative actions across states and the federal government.
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