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Wisconsin: Crime and Punishment

Death Penalty
Drunk Driving
Smoking Ban

Death Penalty

Death Penalty vs. Life Imprisonment Without Parole

Poll	Date	Death Penalty	Life with no parole	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Badger Poll¹	October 18-26, 2006	44%	51%	5%	508	± 4.0
Badger Poll¹	June 23 – July 2, 2006	45%	50%	6%	508	± 4.0

1 "If you could choose between the following two approaches, which do you think is the better penalty for murder: the death penalty or life imprisonment with absolutely no possibility of parole?"

Support for the Death Penalty

Poll	Date	Yes	No	Depends (vol.)	No opinion	Sample	MoE
WPR / St. Norbert College¹	April 25 –May 4, 2005	51%	41%	6%	2%	400 LV	± 5.0

1 "Currently the state of Wisconsin does not have the death penalty. Do you think we should have the death penalty in Wisconsin for persons convicted of premeditated murder?"

Constitutional Amendment Reinstating Death Penalty

Poll	Date	Favor	Oppose	No opinion	Sample	MoE
WISC-TV / Research 2000²	October 30 – November 1, 2006	57%	40%	3%	600 LV	± 4.0
Badger Poll¹	October 18-26, 2006	59%	38%	3%	508	± 4.0
WPR / St. Norbert College¹	October 9-16, 2006	50%	45%	5%	400 LV	± 5.0
WISC-TV / Research 2000²	October 2-4, 2006	54%	39%	7%	600 LV	± 4.0
Badger Poll¹	June 23 – July 2, 2006	56%	37%	7%	508	± 4.0

1 "The ballot this November contains an advisory referendum that will not directly make any change in the law. The Legislature and the Governor are not legally bound by the results of this advisory referendum. The advisory referendum is: Should the death penalty be enacted in the state of Wisconsin for cases involving a person who is convicted of first-degree intentional homicides, if the conviction is supported by DNA evidence?"

2 "Would you favor or oppose reinstating the death penalty in Wisconsin for first-degree intentional homicide, where the conviction is supported by the DNA evidence?"

Morality of Death Penalty

Morality of death penalty	April 25 – May 4, 2005
Morally acceptable	52%
Morally wrong	37%
Depends on the situation	8%
Not a moral issue	1%
No opinion	2%
Poll	WPR / St. Norbert College
Sample	400
MoE	± 5.0

Drunk Driving

Wisconsin Lawmakers Done Enough to Combat Drunk Driving

Poll	Date	Yes	No	No opinion	Sample	MoE
Rasmussen¹	September 15, 2008	27%	58%	15%	700 LV	± 4.0

1 "Have Wisconsin lawmakers done enough to combat drunk driving?"

Smoking Ban

View of State Wide Smoking Ban

View¹	March 25 – April 5, 2008
The state-wide smoking ban should be passed and all workplaces, including bars, should be subject to the ban when the law goes into effect	41%
The state-wide smoking ban should be passed, but bars would be exempted for two years after the enactment of the law	11%
The state-wide smoking ban should be passed, but bars should be permanently exempted	16%
The state-wide smoking ban should not be passed	30%
No opinion	3%
Poll	WPR / St. Norbert College
Sample	400
MoE	± 5.0

1 "The Wisconsin legislature is currently considering a state-wide smoking ban. Which view most closely matches your own..."

Statewide Smoking Ban in Public Places

Poll	Date	Support	Oppose	No opinion	Sample	MoE
WPR / St. Norbert College¹	April 3-17, 2007	63%	35%	2%	400	± 5.0

1 "As part of a broader anti-smoking initiative, Governor Doyle has proposed a statewide smoking ban in public buildings, workplaces, restaurants, and taverns. Do you support or oppose such a ban?"