U.S. — Pew Research Center released findings from a survey conducted in July 2026 showing that 66% of U.S. adults favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. This figure represents a 6 percentage point increase from April 2021, when support stood at 60%.

The survey data comes from Wave 196 of the American Trends Panel, a nationally representative panel of randomly selected U.S. adults. Pew Research Center surveyed 3,554 U.S. adults from July 6 to July 12, 2026. A total of 3,554 panelists responded out of 4,173 who were sampled, resulting in a survey-level response rate of 85%.

While a majority favors capital punishment, the intensity of that support varies among respondents. Thirty percent of U.S. adults strongly favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, while 36% somewhat favor it. On the opposing side, 32% of U.S. adults oppose the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. This opposition breaks down into 20% who somewhat oppose the penalty and 13% who strongly oppose it.

Views on the moral implications of the practice align closely with overall support levels. Sixty-eight percent of U.S. adults say the death penalty is morally justified when someone commits a crime like murder.

Public opinion remains divided on whether capital punishment serves as an effective deterrent. Thirty-nine percent of U.S. adults say the death penalty deters people from committing serious crimes. A larger share, 59% of U.S. adults, say the death penalty does not deter people from committing serious crimes.

Concerns about the reliability of the justice system persist alongside support for the penalty. Seventy-three percent of U.S. adults say there is some risk an innocent person would be put to death. Only 25% of U.S. adults say there are adequate safeguards in place to prevent an innocent person from being put to death.

Racial disparities in sentencing also draw significant public attention. Meanwhile, 48% of U.S. adults say Black people are not more likely than White people to be sentenced to the death penalty for committing similar crimes.

Political affiliation correlates strongly with views on capital punishment. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, opinion is split: 51% favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, and 48% oppose it.

Historical data from Pew Research Center shows fluctuation in public support over the past decade. Online panel surveys conducted by Pew Research Center found 65% of U.S. adults favored the death penalty in September 2019. In January 2020, phone surveys found 53% of U.S. adults favored the penalty, while online panel surveys found 62% in favor. Support rose to 65% in August 2020 before declining to 60% in April 2021.

The July 2026 results indicate a rebound in support for capital punishment after a period of decline. The 6-point rise since April 2021 reverses a trend that saw support drop from 65% in August 2020 to 60% in 2021. This shift occurs against a backdrop of persistent public concern regarding wrongful executions and racial inequities in sentencing.

The divergence between political groups shows the polarized nature of the debate. While Republican support remains high at 84%, Democratic opinion is nearly evenly divided, with 51% in favor and 48% opposed. The survey also notes that PureSource News previously reported Pope Leo XIV Rejects Death Penalty in Vatican Message, reflecting ongoing international religious discourse on the issue. Additionally, earlier coverage on 2026-07-29 reported More Americans now support than oppose all-day school cellphone bans, illustrating a broader landscape of shifting public priorities during this period.

Why It Matters

The 6-point rise in support since April 2021 reverses a recent decline, signaling a shift in public sentiment despite persistent concerns over wrongful executions and racial disparities. With only a quarter of adults believing adequate safeguards exist to prevent innocent people from being put to death, the growing majority favoring capital punishment creates a tension between policy preferences and confidence in the justice system. The sharp partisan divide further complicates the landscape, as Democratic opinion remains nearly split while Republican support stays overwhelmingly high.