Death-penalty support functions as cheap political signaling, not crime policy.

Evidence

Public fear of crime sways many lawmakers to be strong advocates of the death penalty. Indeed, virtually every lawmaker of note and every recent president has, at various times in their careers, professed support for the death penalty. If they do not, they are branded “soft on crime” and as wanting to “coddle criminals.” Many politicians believe that proclaiming support for the death penalty helps them win elections. Opposing the death penalty, they claim, jeopardizes their electability. They cite as evidence the defeats of high-profile opponents of the death penalty. Establishing their credentials as tough on crime by declaration enables them to evade informing the public about their policies for reducing and preventing crime in society. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2069

Categorization

• SEED: Article angle: ‘symbolic legislation’ or ‘cheap signaling’ in politics — how declaring support substitutes for actual policy substance across issues beyond the death penalty.