Younger Generations Lead Decline in U.S. Support for Death Penalty
by Michael Dean Thompson
Support for the death penalty among Americans has fallen to 53%, its lowest level since 1972, driven primarily by younger generations who are far less likely to favor capital punishment for convicted murderers, according to a Gallup poll.
Gallup’s annual Crime Survey, conducted since 2000, reveals a steady decline in approval for the death penalty over the past two decades. From 2000 to 2006, an average of 66% of U.S. adults supported capital punishment. This figure dipped to 61% between 2010 and 2016 and fell further to 54% from 2020 to 2024, reflecting a significant shift in public sentiment.
Younger generations—specifically Millennials (born 1981–1996) and Generation Z (“Gen Z”) (born 1997–2012)—are at the forefront of this change. Only 47% of Millennials and 42% of Gen Z adults favor the death penalty, compared with roughly 60% of older generations, including Generation X (“Gen X”) (born 1965–1980), Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964), and the Silent Generation (born 1928–1945). Two decades ago, generational differences were minimal, with all age groups’ support hovering within three percentage points of the national average of 66%.
The decline among younger adults coincides with increased scrutiny of capital punishment. Many Millennials and Gen Z adults came of age during a period when several states imposed moratoriums on executions or repealed death penalty laws, often prompted by cases in which prisoners on death row were later exonerated. For example, advancements in DNA evidence have highlighted wrongful convictions, influencing public opinion.
Partisan and Generational Divides
While overall support has waned, Republicans have largely maintained their approval of the death penalty over the past 25 years, with 82% of those in older generations and 69% of younger Republicans (Millennials and Gen Z) in favor from 2020 to 2024. In contrast, Democrats and political independents show marked declines, particularly among younger cohorts.
Among older Democrats (Gen X, Baby Boomers, and Silent Generation), support dropped from 57% in 2000–2006 to 49% in 2010–2016, and further to 38% in 2020–2024. Younger Democrats have seen an even steeper decline, from 45% in 2010–2016 to 27% in the most recent period. Political independents reflect a similar trend: support among older independents fell from 64% in 2010–2016 to 58% in 2020–2024, while younger independents dropped from 55% to 45%.
These shifts have created significant generational gaps within political groups. For instance, a 44-percentage-point divide separates older Democrats (38%) from older Republicans (82%), while younger Democrats (27%) and younger Republicans (69%) are 42 points apart.
A Broader Cultural Shift
The declining support for the death penalty aligns with broader liberalizing trends in American attitudes. Over the past two decades, public acceptance has grown for same-sex marriage—legalized nationwide in 2015 following Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)—marijuana legalization, now permitted in 24 states for recreational use, and having children outside marriage, with 70% of Americans in 2023 viewing it as morally acceptable, per Gallup.
Younger generations are driving these changes, often holding views distinct from those of their parents and grandparents. The death penalty’s declining prominence in policy debates and political campaigns, compared with issues like abortion or immigration, may reflect its fading resonance in a society increasingly open to alternatives like life without parole, which jurors in many states now find more acceptable.
Historical Context
The current division in public opinion echoes the late 1960s and early 1970s, when support for the death penalty also hovered near 50%. In 1972, the Supreme Court temporarily halted executions in Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972), citing arbitrary application of capital punishment. Executions resumed in 1976 after Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976), upheld revised death penalty statutes. Today’s declining support may signal a return to skepticism about the justice system’s ability to administer capital punishment fairly.
As states grapple with high-profile exonerations and ethical concerns, the death penalty remains a divisive issue, shaped by age, politics, and evolving cultural norms.
Source: Gallup Poll Social Series.
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