Reply #78: same problems with research that you cite exist in regard to many social

[sojourner]

problems. while i'm aware of the weaknesses, i am also impressed by the data that looks at the homicide rate in relationship to whether the DP is used in a state or it is not....

As executions rose, states without the death penalty fared much better than states with the death penalty in reducing their murder rates. The gap between the murder rate in death penalty states and the non-death penalty states grew larger (as shown in Chart II). In 1990, the murder rates in these two groups were 4% apart. By 2000, the murder rate in the death penalty states was 35% higher than the rate in states without the death penalty. In 2001, the gap between non-death penalty states and states with the death penalty again grew, reaching 37%. For 2002, the number stands at 36%. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=12&did=168

i wouldn't care to suggest that the DP causes murder. but i do feel comfortable saying that it is NOT A DETERRENT, given the data.

that's my whole point. thanks for taking the time to analyze the studies as carefully as you did.