Discussion Question

Some argue that executions deter potential criminals from committing crimes?  Does the number of executions have an impact on the occurrence of violent crimes?

 Data Set

Violent crimes by type and prisoners executed under civil authority in the United States, by year and state, 1977-1999

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics National Prisoner Statistics data series (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cp.htm) and the FBI Uniform Crime Reports (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/datast.htm)

Advanced Questions

What evidence would be sufficient to indicate that executions are an effective policy mechanism for deterring violent criminals?  What other information would be useful for understanding the relationship between executions and violent crime rates?