DATE=2/23/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-174552

TITLE=DEATH PENALTY POLL (L)

BYLINE=JANE BERGER

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A NATIONAL SURVEY OF U-S POLICE CHIEFS INDICATES TOP LAW

ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

DETERS CRIME. CORRESPONDENT JANE BERGER REPORTS THE SURVEY WAS

CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL POLLING FIRM OF PETER HART FOR THE

DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION CENTER, A PRIVATE GROUP OPPOSED TO

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

TEXT: THE SURVEY INDICATES THAT U-S POLICE CHIEFS VIEW CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT AS THE LEAST EFFECTIVE DETERRENT TO VIOLENT CRIME, AND

BELIEVE POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY SIMPLY DO SO TO

DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE TOUGH ON CRIME.

THE REPORT SAID NEARLY 60 PERCENT OF THE CHIEFS PHILOSOPHICALLY

SUPPORT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE IT WORKS AS AN

EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOL. FORMER NEW YORK CITY POLICE

COMMISSIONER PATRICK MURPHY SAID THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO FIGHT

CRIME.

/// MURPHY ACT ///

ALTHOUGH MANY OF THEM SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY, THEY

UNDERSTAND THAT ITS VALUE AS A CRIME CONTROL DEVICE IS

VERY LIMITED AND THAT EFFECTIVE POLICING, BETTER

SENTENCING, A BETTER ECONOMY ARE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT

FACTORS IN ADDRESSING THE CRIME PROBLEM.

/// END ACT ///

THE CHIEFS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED SOCIAL PROGRAMS AS THE BEST

WAY TO FIGHT CRIME ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. MORE THAN

THREE-QUARTERS OF THE CHIEFS CALLED FOR MEASURES TO HALT THE FLOW

OF ILLEGAL DRUGS, AND PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES,

NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHURCHES. NEARLY HALF SAID VIOLENT CRIME COULD

BE REDUCED IF THERE WERE GREATER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND JOBS

AND IF LEGAL RULES WERE EASED TO SPEED PROSECUTIONS.

FORMER COMMISSIONER MURPHY SAID THE CHIEFS ALSO BELIEVE FUNDS

SPENT ON THE DEATH PENALTY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE.

/// MURPHY ACT ///

THE DEATH PENALTY IS A VERY EXPENSIVE TOOL. RESEARCH

HAS INDICATED JUST HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO CARRY OUT THE

DEATH PENALTY. AND THE CHIEFS MADE QUITE CLEAR THAT

THEY FEEL THE MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT IN OTHER

APPROACHES.

/// END ACT ///

LEGAL EXPERTS ESTIMATE IT COSTS TWO TO THREE MILLION DOLLARS TO

EXECUTE A DEATH ROW INMATE, INCLUDING THE COSTS OF PROSECUTION

AND A TRIAL BY JURY. BY CONTRAST, IT COSTS ON AVERAGE ABOUT

SEVEN TO 800 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INCARCERATE A CONVICTED CRIMINAL

FOR LIFE.

THE SURVEY WAS RELEASED AS THE NEW, REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED

CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING MEASURES TO SPEED EXECUTIONS OF DEATH ROW

INMATES AND MAKE MORE CRIMES SUJBECT TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

SINCE THE SUPREME COURT RE-INSTATED THE DEATH PENALTY IN 1976 AT

THE OPTION OF INDIVIDUAL STATES, ALL BUT 13 STATES AND THE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE RE-AUTHORIZED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

SINCE 1976, THERE HAVE BEEN 266 EXECUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES,

AND THERE ARE NOW NEARLY THREE THOUSAND DEATH ROW INMATES

AWAITING EXECUTION. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/GPT

23-Feb-95 2:23 PM EST (1923 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America