A national poll recently conducted by Peter D

A national poll recently conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found only 60% favored the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. The poll also found that when respondents were offered the sentencing alternative of life imprisonment with restitution to the victims' families, support for the death penalty fell to 38%, with 48% supporting the alternative. Among the poll's additional findings: 72% favored suspension of the death penalty until questions about its fairness can be studied, up from 64% in August 2000 91% favored requiring courts to allow death row inmates access to DNA tests that could prove their innocence 84% favored requiring court-appointed attorneys in death penalty cases to have prior experience in capital cases and to be certified to handle such cases by the local Bar Association 82% favor requiring courts to have funds available to ensure that capital defendants have adequate counsel