Death Penalty and Race

Paper Summary:

The paper takes the position against the death penalty and examines the theoretical models of criminal justice known as criminal justice as oppression. The paper explores the contention of many that the application of the death penalty is itself discriminatory and unfair to minorities. The paper looks at many studies that prove the effects of racial bias on the application of the death penalty.

Outline:
Introduction
Criminal Justice as Oppression
Capital Punishment
Ongoing Debate
Outcome for Capital Punishment
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Arguments have raged for decades about the use of capital punishment in the United States, with some holding that there is a need for society to express its disapproval for certain acts by ending the life of the convicted person, while others see this as an act outside the boundaries of what a civilized society should do. The discussion can be much more complex, beginning with assumptions about why the death penalty is used at all, how well these reasons can be supported, how likely it is that a mistake will be made, and so on. Fairness is always an issue in these discussions, referring to fairness to the accused, fairness to the victim, and even fairness to society at large and to any future victims if a murderer is free to kill again."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aguirre, A., Jr., & Baker, D.V. (1991). Race, racism, and the death penalty in the United States. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Vande Vere Publishing.
• Amnesty International (1999).. Killing with prejudice: race and the death penalty. Amnesty International, Pub. No. AMR 51/52/99. London: Amnesty International.
• Baldus, D.C., Woodworth, Q., & Pulaski, C.A., Jr. (1990). Equal justice and the death penalty: A legal and empirical analysis. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
• Baldus, D.C., Woodworth, G., Zuckerman, D., Weiner, N.A., & Broffitt, B. (1998). Racial discrimination and the death penalty in the post-Furman era: An empirical and legal overview, with recent findings from Philadelphia. Cornell Law Review 83:1638-770
• Bohm, R. (1991). American death penalty opinion, 1936--1986: A critical examination of the Gallup Polls. In R. Bohm (ed.), The death penalty in America: Current research. Cincinnati, Ohio: Anderson Publishing, 113--145.

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• Term Paper # 115776 : "Death Penalty and Minorities"
• Analytical Essay # 130809 : "Scientific Validity of Statistical Papers on the Death Penalty"

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