Deterrence and the death penalty: Why the statistics should be ignored

Abstract

Is the death penalty a deterrent? Does it dissuade potential murders from killing? Many studies say it does, many studies say it does not but "all of the research about deterrence and the death penalty done in the past generation ... should be ignored" said a recent headline summarising a report from the National Research Council. Daniel Nagin co-edited the report. He explains why the statistics are no guide. © 2014 The Royal Statistical Society.