In recent years, the question of whether the death penalty serves as an effective deterrent to crime has sparked significant debate, particularly in the context of U.S. policy. On January 20, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting the death penalty as an “essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens.” This order, which reflects Trump’s campaign rhetoric, aims to overturn Supreme Court precedents limiting capital punishment, increase its use in federal cases, and ensure states have sufficient lethal injection drugs. However, the question of whether capital punishment truly deters crime remains contentious, with differing perspectives within both social science and Catholic teaching.
The Evidence on Deterrence
The social science perspective on the death penalty as a deterrent is highly disputed. According to Robin Maher, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), studies reviewed by the organization “consistently fail” to demonstrate a link between capital punishment and reduced crime rates. One notable study from the National Research Council (NRC) in 2012 concluded that “the existing research was ‘not informative about whether capital punishment decreases, increases, or has no effect on homicide rates,'” while cautioning that “lack of evidence is not evidence for or against the hypothesis” (DPIC).
A more recent study in 2023, which controlled for various factors, found that states with a moratorium on the death penalty in recent years saw a slight decrease in homicide rates. This suggests that the presence of the death penalty might have little to no deterrent effect. Some studies that claim to show a strong deterrent effect have been criticized for failing to account for other factors influencing homicide rates. Maher further explained that “a significant number of offenders suffer from severe mental illness or trauma,” which makes their actions less likely to be influenced by rational decision-making, such as weighing the consequences of a potential death sentence.
While the death penalty may offer some deterrence, Maher noted that other punishments, like life in prison without parole, could provide “equal deterrence at far less cost, and without the attendant risk of executing an innocent person.” Additionally, the 2023 study found that “increased certainty of sanctions”—or the perceived likelihood of punishment—might be a more effective deterrent than the severity of punishment itself. As Maher observed, “All punishment has a specific deterrent effect of some kind already. The fact that you are putting someone in a prison environment, often for the rest of their natural life, is also a very significant punishment that should, in theory, deter future crime.”
Catholic Teachings on the Death Penalty
From a Catholic perspective, the question of whether the death penalty deters crime is not central to recent papal teachings on the matter. Instead, popes such as St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have emphasized the inherent dignity of all human beings, even those who have committed grave crimes. Pope Francis, in particular, has been outspoken against the death penalty, describing it as “inadmissible” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In No. 2267, the Catechism states that the death penalty is an “attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” and affirms that the Church “works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”
Pope Francis has consistently reiterated his strong opposition to capital punishment. In a preface for a book on the topic, he stated, “The death penalty is in no way a solution to the violence that can strike innocent people.” The Holy Father further explained that “capital executions, far from bringing justice, fuel a sense of revenge that becomes a dangerous poison for the body of our civil societies.”
The U.S. bishops have also weighed in on the deterrence argument. In a 1980 statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) observed that “while it is certain that capital punishment prevents the individual from committing further crimes, it is far from certain that it actually prevents others from doing so.” They pointed out that “the small number of death sentences in relation to the number of murders” makes it unlikely that the threat of execution significantly influences behavior. The bishops also highlighted the issue of long delays in executions, noting that such delays “diminish the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent” because the punishment becomes uncertain and remote.
Opposing Views within the Catholic Community
While many Catholic leaders, including Pope Francis and the USCCB, oppose the death penalty, there are some within the Church who argue that it can still be justified. Edward Feser, a Catholic philosopher and co-author of the book By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed, defends the idea that the death penalty can deter crime. He and his co-author Joseph Bessette cite nine peer-reviewed studies that they believe demonstrate a deterrent effect, though they acknowledge the inconclusive nature of the evidence. Feser argues that “it is silly to suppose in the first place that this is the sort of thing one really needs social scientific studies to establish.” He points out that “nobody doubts that punishments will at least deter many people much of the time,” and concludes that “the death penalty is bound to have deterrence value.”
Feser also contends that the Church has historically affirmed the legitimacy of capital punishment as a just practice. While acknowledging that there have been different views on its application, he argues that the Church’s teaching has been consistent in recognizing the death penalty as morally permissible in principle. However, he emphasizes that the death penalty should be applied in a just and fair manner, and he believes that reforming the system—rather than abolishing it—would be the proper response to its flaws.
The debate over the death penalty remains a complex and contentious issue, particularly for Catholics. While the social science evidence on its deterrent effect remains inconclusive, the Church’s teaching on the matter has become increasingly clear. Pope Francis and the USCCB have strongly opposed the death penalty, emphasizing the dignity of all human life and advocating for its abolition. As Catholics, we are called to uphold the sanctity of life and work toward a society where justice is not rooted in vengeance but in the restoration of human dignity.
In light of the Church’s consistent teaching, it is clear that the death penalty, regardless of its potential deterrent effect, cannot be justified as a solution to crime. As Pope Francis aptly stated, “capital executions, far from bringing justice, fuel a sense of revenge that becomes a dangerous poison for the body of our civil societies.” Let us continue to reflect on the dignity of each person, including those who have committed terrible crimes, and work towards a more just and merciful world.
