Connecticut (CT) Poll * May 28, 2009 * Keep Death Penalty, Connecticu - Quinnipiac University

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May 28, 2009 - Keep Death Penalty, Connecticut Voters Say Almost 2-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Retribution, Severity Of Crime Cited As Main Reasons

Word format Connecticut voters say 61 - 34 percent that the state should keep the death penalty, rather than abolish it and replace it with a maximum sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
By a 68 - 28 percent margin, men want to keep the death penalty, compared to 55 - 39 percent among women, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Support for the death penalty is 77 - 20 percent among Republicans, 50 -43 percent among Democrats and 64 - 31 percent among independent voters.
In an open-ended question, allowing for any answer, 23 percent of Connecticut voters who support the death penalty list retribution and/or fair punishment as their main reason, while 22 percent say the death penalty is needed for severe or heinous crimes.
Among those opposed to the death penalty, 23 percent say no one has the right to take a human life, while 15 percent cite the fear of executing an innocent person.
"Gov. Jodi Rell has said that she intends to veto the bill to abolish the death penalty and public opinion is on her side," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.
"Voters may want to keep the death penalty for the most horrific crimes, such as the Cheshire home invasion murders. In a November 7, 2007, Quinnipiac University poll, 73 percent of Connecticut voters favored the death penalty if the Cheshire suspects are convicted of murder.
"While the Democratically controlled State Legislature passed the bill to eliminate the death penalty, our poll found that Democrats support keeping the death penalty."
From May 20 - 25, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,575 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data and RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
22. How much have you heard or read about the debate over whether Connecticut should abolish the death penalty? Have you heard a lot, some, not much or nothing at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A lot 21% 19% 23% 20% 23% 19% Some 41 41 42 43 42 41 Not much 27 32 24 26 25 28 Nothing at all 11 8 11 11 10 11 DK/NA - - - 1 - - MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon A lot 12% 28% 27% 22% 18% Some 44 41 33 39 45 Not much 30 20 32 30 26 Nothing at all 15 10 8 8 11 DK/NA - - - 1 - AGE IN YEARS............ Lib Mod Con 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ A lot 24% 17% 24% 18% 12% 21% 31% Some 41 43 38 27 38 51 41 Not much 23 28 29 34 35 21 19 Nothing at all 12 11 9 20 14 7 8 DK/NA - - - - 1 - 1
23. Do you think the death penalty should be abolished in Connecticut and replaced with a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or do you think Connecticut should continue to have the death penalty?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Abolish 34% 20% 43% 31% 28% 39% Continue 61 77 50 64 68 55 DK/NA 5 3 6 5 4 6 MdlSex Toll,Wndm Farfld Hrtfrd Lchfld NewHvn NewLon Abolish 44% 28% 36% 31% 32% Continue 51 66 57 63 65 DK/NA 5 6 7 6 3 AGE IN YEARS......... Lib Mod Con 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+ Abolish 55% 32% 22% 36% 28% 35% 38% Continue 41 63 73 61 68 61 54 DK/NA 4 5 5 2 4 5 9
24a. (If abolish q23) What is the main reason why you think the death penalty should be abolished in Connecticut?
ABOLISH Q23 No one has the right to take a life/It's murder 23% Fear of executing an innocent person/Irreversible 15 Life in prison is better because it is a harsher punishment 9 Costs too much to keep someone on death row 9 Religious reasons (general) 9 Not a deterrent/Not effective 7 It's Cruel/Inhumane 6 Just don't support it 6 Unethical/Immoral 5 No one is executed anyway 2 Life in prison is enough 2 It's not applied fairly 1 OTHER 4 DK/NA 3
24b. (If continue q23) What is the main reason why you think Connecticut should continue to have the death penalty?
CONTINUE Q23 Retribution/Fair punishment/ Eye for an eye 23% Costs too much to keep in prison/Financial burden 23 For severe/heinous crimes 22 Deterrent for others/Effective 15 Just support it 4 Life in prison isn't enough 3 Permanently removes murderer from society/Definitive/Final 3 OTHER 6 DK/NA 2