(Murder rate per 100,000 people.States marked in yellow have no death penalty statue.)



Death penalty acts as a deterrent. Texas has the highest homicide rate in 1996. But on 1997, it fell below Michigan. Gradually the rate is decreasing and in 2010, it was much lower than  in 1996. Also, it fell below Michigan. In Massachusetts, the homicide rate increased from 1996 when other states with death penalty decreases.