by Richard L. Worsnop

About the author: Richard L. Worsnop is a staff writer for CQ Researcher,a weekly report on current issues.

Capital punishment backers traditionally cite two reasons why society is justified in executing certain criminals: retribution and deterrence. They claim that executions satisfy the public’s demand that murderers suffer punishment proportionate to their offense. The deterrence rationale rests on somewhat shakier ground, however, because of the difficulty of proving that the death penalty deters capital crimes.

Nonetheless, deterrence is invariably part of the debate. A 1985 study by Stephen K. Layson, an economist at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, shows that the death penalty deters more potential homicides than earlier studies had suggested.

Rep. Bill McCollum of Florida says the bill to limit condemned prisoners’ habeas corpus appeals &ldquo...