Part I: Christine Notis; Part II: Edward Hunter

The authors of the following two-part viewpoint assert that the death penalty does not deter violent crime. In Part I, Iowa State University biology student Christine Notis argues that because only a fraction of death-row prisoners are actually executed, murderers do not feel hindered by the threat of capital punishment. Moreover, she points out, homicide rates are actually higher in those states that enforce the death penalty. In Part II, freelance journalist Edward Hunter cites a study concluding that capital punishment is no more effective than life imprisonment as a crime deterrent. This article was written as a news release from the University of Florida. The opinions expressed by Dr. Radelet do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the author or the university.

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