Poll: 57% of Alabamians Support Suspension of the Death Penalty

As mentioned in the previous post, the Birmingham News reported last week on a recent poll showing that "57 percent of Alabamians surveyed support a suspension of the death penalty while questions of fairness and reliability are studied." I'd be a little cautious about jumping to that conclusion, and here's why.

The following questions were asked for the poll, which was conducted by the AEA's Capital Survey Research Center.

1. The second issue concerns the death penalty. How do you feel about the use of the death penalty in Alabama? Do you:

Support death penalty……………70.8%
Oppose death penalty…………….19.6%
Don’t Know / No Reply…………….9.5%

2. Do you believe the death penalty is applied fairly in Alabama regardless of gender, race, income or age?

Yes, applied fairly……………………47.0%
No, not applied fairly……………….35.9%
Don’t Know / No Reply……………17.1%

3. Do you believe an innocent person may be convicted and executed?

No…………………………………………….14.3%
Yes……………………………………………79.6%
Don’t Know / No Reply………………6.1%

4. There have been cases in which someone sentenced to be executed was found not guilty based on new evidence, usually DNA testing. How do you feel about suspending the death penalty in Alabama until questions about the fairness and accuracy of the death penalty have been studied and confirmed? Do you:

Support suspension……………………57.1%
Oppose suspension…………………….30.3%
Don’t Know / No Reply………………12.6%

5. How do you feel about the use of DNA testing in cases where it might prove a person’s innocence or guilt? Do you:

Support use of DNA…………………….95.8%
Oppose use of DNA……………………….1.4%
Don’t Know / No Reply………………….2.9%

6. Would you be more or less likely to support a candidate for public office who supports the use of DNA testing in cases that involve the death penalty?

Much more likely………………………….54.5%
Somewhat more likely………………….33.0%
Somewhat less likely………………………3.0%
Much less likely………………………………1.9%
Don’t Know / No Reply…………………..7.6%

7. Would you be more or less likely to support a candidate for public office who supports a suspension of the death penalty until questions about the use of DNA testing have been answered?

Much more likely…………………………..32.2%
Somewhat more likely…………………..30.2%
Somewhat less likely……………………..12.8%
Much less likely……………………………..12.5%
Don’t Know / No Reply…………………..12.2%

In making its conclusion ("57 percent of Alabamians surveyed support a suspension of the death penalty while questions of fairness and reliability are studied"), the News was referring specifically to Question #4:

There have been cases in which someone sentenced to be executed was found not guilty based on new evidence, usually DNA testing. How do you feel about suspending the death penalty in Alabama until questions about the fairness and accuracy of the death penalty have been studied and confirmed?

Trick question, huh? The pollster presented respondents with a single "fact" that is often cited by those favoring a moratorium on the death penalty, but other facts that support the opposite position were not cited. Whether the question was intentionally tailored to produce the desired answer or whether the pollster was simply trying to provide useful information to the respondents is irrelevant. In either case, the phrasing of the question undoubtedly skewed the results in favor of the pro-moratorium position.

I'm not saying that this poll was useless or entirely disingenous, but it provides a clear example of why poll results should be interpreted for what they actually say, not for what biased partisans want them to say.