Michael L. Radelet and Ronald L. Akers

About the author: Michael L. Radelet is the chair of the department of sociology at the University of Florida. Ronald L. Akers is a professor of sociology at the University of Florida and the director of the school's Center for Studies in Criminology and Law.

Capital punishment has strong political and public support primarily because it is seen as a general deterrent. To find out what "experts" think of the deterrent value of the death penalty, a small and elite group of criminologists were polled on their views. Most experts, based on their knowledge of existing research, believe the death penalty has little or no impact on murder rates and is politically motivated. Many also believe the presence of a death...