GOOD OL BOYS AND THE CHAIR - DEATH-PENALTY ATTITUDES OF POLICY-MAKERSIN TENNESSEE

This report is a summary of a survey of Tennessee chief prosecutors (d istrict attorneys general), chief public defenders, and state legislat ors concerning their attitudes toward capital punishment Global approv al was compared with (1) approval when offered the options of life wit hout parole and (2) life without parole and restitution to the victim' s family. Additional items probed approval of capital punishment for s pecific subpopulations: juvenile, mentally ill, and mentally retarded offenders. Consistent with previous research, support for the death pe nalty declined when respondents were given the option of life without parole. A concluding note is offered calling for more complete researc h on the issue.