Vol.26 No.9 - National Sheriffs' Association Supports The Death Penalty

Sep 29, 2026

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Issue Vol.26 No.9 dated March 3, 1995 presents Question Survey Results regarding capital punishment and includes related commentary from law enforcement groups and legal organizations. It reports critiques of a nationwide survey by the Death Penalty Information Center, discusses positions taken by the National Sheriffs' Association and the concerns raised about the survey’s sampling and conclusions, and summarizes editor-noted highlights from interviews with police chiefs in selected counties.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Question Survey Results:

IN THIS ISSUE

National Sheriffs' Association Supports The Death Penalty

The Death Penalty Information Center's Nationwide Survey Results

ii Vol.26 No.9 March 3,1995 # Question Survey Results: IN THIS ISSUE POLICE CHIEFS',SHERIFFS' DEATH PENALTY SURVEY: Some Question. …………………1 ASSOCIATIONS REAFFIRM ABA:Opposes "STOP" Ac………………………………………………………1 SUPPOKT FOR DEATH PENALTY SCOTLAND: Redecorating Prison Cell …………………………2 Contrary to the findings suggested in a report PRIVATIZATION CONFERENCE: Scheduled…………………5 released Feb.22 by the Death Penalty Information Center, police chiefs and sheriffs do support the ALABAMA JUDGES: Supreme Court Rules…………………5 death penalty and believe it to be a useful law enforcement tool. JOB LISTINGS……………………………………………………………………………6 MEDICAL NEWS…………………………………………………………………6 "The death penalty is a deterrent to violent crime," said International Association of Chiefs of OREGON: Addressing Incarceration Cycle…………………………8 Police(IACP) President John Whetsel, chief of the DRUGS AND CRIME: Conference Coming Up…………………9 Choctaw, Okla., Police Department. "Members of IACP have expressed this view on a number of MEGAN'S LAW: Ruled Unconstitutional…………………………………9 occasions over the past 73 years by repeatedly adopting resolutions expressing support for capital VIRGINIA GOVERNOR: A Setback…………………………………10 punishment. These resolutions are a truly reliable MISSISSIPPI: Spares The Rod……………………………………………10 barometer of how police executives feel about this issue." The IACP, the world's oldest and largest "STOP"Act: professional association representing law enforcement executives, currently has a member- ABA URGES SENATE TO OPPOSE ship of some 13,300 individuals in the United "DEFECTIVE"PRISONER LEGISLATION States and in 77 nations around the world. ACLU Also Disappointed References to the IACP contained in the Death Penalty Information Center report should not Calling the provisions in the Stop Turning be construed as indicating any involvement in nor Out Prisoners Act("STOP")"unwise and a gross support for the center's survey or its conclusions, infringement on the prerogative of states," Ameri- Whetsel said. can Bar Association (ABA) Criminal Justice Sec- tion Chairman E.Michael McCann on Feb.21 "It is, at best, highly questionable whether called on the U.S. Senate to oppose the proposed this telephone survey of less than 400 respondents legislation. --out of a population of more than 17,000 potential respondents--can conclude that the law enforcement In a letter to the Senate, McCann said that community does not consider the death penalty as a "STOP," which is part of the Republicans' Con- useful enforcement tool nor an effective measure in tract with America and was approved by the House reducing violent crime," he added. (See "STOP"ACT,pagefive) See DEATH PENALTY,page two) ISSN 0010-9045 Page 1 sCOTTISH PRISON sYSTEMREDECORATING CELLS The Scottish prison system hasannounced that cells of prisonersdeemed suicidal wil1 be painted inpastel colors. "Psychologists be-lieve that light pastel shades havea very soothing "effect on peopleand help to cut stress levels,"says a prison spokesman:"It is a1ot better than harsh colors."Spe-cially designed cells for the de-pressed wiil also have biggerwindows. (DEATH PENALTY,from page one) # National Sheriffs'AssociationSupports The Death Penalty The National Sheriffs'Association(NSA)onFeb.23 questioned the validity of the survey by theDeath Penalty Information Center. NSA feels that the survey results that arebased on the response of only 20 sheriffs out of 3,095,do not represent a true sampling of sheriffsnor do they correctly reflect the position of thesheriffs of the United States on the death penalty. A resolution passed by NSA's membershipon June 15,1994,clearly states that:"The use ofcapital punishment has been called for by the na-tion's law enforcement officials;the National Sher-iffs'Association strongly supports the imposition ofcapital punishment without qualificatio

FAQs

What issue and date does this document correspond to?

It is labeled Vol.26 No.9 and dated March 3, 1995.

Why does the National Sheriffs' Association question the survey results?

It argues the survey is based on only 20 sheriffs out of 3,095, does not represent a true sampling, and does not correctly reflect sheriffs’ positions nationwide.

What are the key survey highlights according to the editor’s note?

Police chiefs reportedly do not view the death penalty as a useful law enforcement tool or an effective way to reduce violent crime, though they see it symbolically in politics and worry it distracts from real solutions.

Sep 29, 2026

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