Death penalty support ticks sup alter years of decline support % who the death penalty for persons convicted of murder
Public support for the death penalty, which reached a four-decade low in 2016, has increased somewhat since then. Today, 54% of Americans favor the death penalty for people convicted of murder, while 39% are opposed, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in April and May.
Two years ago, 49% favored the death penalty for people convicted of murder, the lowest level of support for capital punishment in surveys dating back to the early 1970s.
Death penalty support ticks sup alter  | years of decline support  | % who  | the death penalty for persons convicted of  | murder  | 8  | Favor  | 39  | 18  | Oppose  | 1996  | 2007  | 2018  | Note: Don 'tknow responses notshown.  | Source Survev ofu.s adults conducted April25-May 1, 2018.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 