Professor Baumgartner and his colleagues contend that the "discovery of innocence" in the mid-1990s has reframed the death penalty debate away from traditional morality-based and constitutional arguments and has effectively changed U.S. public opinion and public policy about the death penalty, as evidenced by reduced public support for the death penalty (especially when respondents are provided with the option of LWOP), and by declining numbers of death sentences and executions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the argument made by Professor Baumgartner and his colleagues. They argue that the "discovery of innocence" has shifted public opinion and policy on the death penalty, leading to reduced support and declining use.

Professor Baumgartner and His Colleagues Contend That the "Discovery of Innocence