Although some possible limitations of this investigation have been identified, the consistency of the findings with earlier studies cannot be ignored. Nor can it be ignored that not a single reputable study has yet to demonstrate the death penalty to be a more effective deterrent to murder than alternative legal sanctions...
For these reasons, and because of the seriousness of the issue, I feel obliged to agree with most previous investigators. The evidence clearly suggests that the death penalty in our criminal justice system, at least for murder, will have to be justified on grounds other than its deterrence effectiveness.