Deterrence and the Death Penalty: Why the Statistics should be Ignored

Abstract Is the death penalty a deterrent? Does it dissuade potential murders from killing? Many studies say it does, many studies say it does not; but “all of the research about deterrence and the death penalty done in the past generation … should be ignored” said a recent headline summarising a report from the National Research Council.

Daniel Nagin co-edited the report. He explains why the statistics are no guide.