NCJ Number
12112
Journal
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 265-273
Date Published
1973
Length
9 pages
Annotation
STUDIES COMPARING HOMICIDE RATES IN CANADA BEFORE AND AFTER THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY HAVE SHOWN THAT THE TREND IN HOMICIDE RATES HAS REMAINED STABLE.
Abstract
A MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY WAS PROPOSED BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT FELT THE PENALTY WAS MORALLY WRONG, THE CANADIAN DATA ON MURDER SHOW AN INVERSE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INCIDENCE OF MURDER AND THE EXPECTANCY OF EITHER DEATH OR LIFE IMPRISONMENT AS PUNISHMENT. THESE CORRELATIONS SUGGEST THAT THESE PUNISHMENTS DO EXERT SOME DETERRENT INFLUENCES. THE ANALYSIS OF MURDER STATISTICS FOR CANADA SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES, A DECREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF CASES SOLVED, A DECREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF CASES RESULTING IN A CONVICTION OF MURDER AND AN INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF CASES RESULTING IN A CONVICTION OF MANSLAUGHTER. THESE STATISTICS SHOW THAT IN CANADA THE DECREASE IN SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT THREATENED AND INFLICTED APPEARS TO HAVE PRODUCED A DEMAND FOR MORE STRINGENT PROOF OF GUILT.