Abstract
This paper reviews Aguirre and Baker's work entitled "Race, racism and the death penalty in the United States" in which the issue of hanging as a social control mechanism is examined. The paper further notes how the book sees hangings as intended to ensure power by some social groups over others. This was evident in the hangings committed by the KKK, with the group seeking to ensure that Blacks remained in their acceptable social placement and that the members of the KKK have acc

From the Paper
"The author discusses the issue of hanging as a social control mechanism that was intended to ensure power by some social groups over others. This was evident in the hangings committed by the KKK, with the group seeking to ensure that Blacks remained in their acceptable social placement and that the members of the KKK have acceptable retaliatory measures to take if this were not the case. The book explores the impact that these actions had on society and the social involvement in lynchings as a reflection of..."

Tags:kkk, history, hanging

Abstract
This paper examines the general divide, as well as proposing support for one particular aspect of this rather general issue, which is that of the racism inherent in the American state execution system, hereafter referred to as 'death row'. This paper explains that, especially in Texas and some other Southern states such as Georgia, but arguably anywhere, minorities are relegated to an inferior social status due to racist out-group thinking in terms of cultural authority; this racism is at work. The writer points out that the over-representation of minorities on death row is worth examining as a symptom of many problems in the system, including those of cleared cases and ones still pending. The functional racism of the death penalty is illustrated in several examples and other issues of concern it raises within legal scholarship.

From the Paper
"The history of the death penalty is long and too complicated to recount in terms of cultural differences throughout human history within the present forum. But the death penalty has been used by societies since ancient times, for various crimes ranging in magnitude and the severity of harm involved. Generally societies that were based on scriptural rules regarding the death penalty for various crimes had their civil codes and
laws. There has been an observed racial divide within the U.S. in terms of death penalty cases since independence, depending largely on the societal implications of a racially oppressive legal culture that was guided by principles of universal human freedom. Other systems have their own histories of racial oppression through unequal colonialist
legal systems."

Tags:crime, punishment, texas, death, row, capital

Abstract
This paper explores white racial attitudes in connection to the death penalty. It shows how the death penalty is meted out on a racial and economic bias. We see that imposed social structures of racism heavily influence the racism of the death penalty itself.

Abstract
This paper discusses the debate on the death penalty as more than a moral issue of whether it is ever permissible to intentionally kill, but rather as an ethical debate on how the death penalty is administered in the United States. It suggests that issues surrounding the administration of the death penalty, make a compelling case for abolishing capital punishment as a sentencing option in the United States.

Table of Contents:
Does The Death Penalty Deter Crime - And Do Americans Really Support It?
Arguments On Behalf Of Victims' Families Ring Hollow
The Wrongly Accused: DNA And Other Exonerations
Racism And The Death Penalty
Executing The Mentally And Psychologically Incompetent
Ineffective Counsel
Methods Are Not As Painless As Some Argue
Conclusion

From the Paper
"When celebrities such as Robert Blake or O.J. Simpson are charged with murder, it is not uncommon for millions of dollars to be spent on their defense. While we may not expect such extremes when poor or middle-class people are charged with murder, we would expect that these defendants would at least have competent legal representation. Quite clearly, this is often not the case."
"For example, the state of Florida allocates only $3,500 for a person to defend themselves against murder charges when a private lawyer can not be afforded and a public defender is unavailable (Payne 2006). That is, in fact, much less than what one might expect to pay for a reliable used car, and yet it is all the money that is allocated for people trying to save themselves from execution. Further, the state also caps how much can be spent by the defense on appeal (no such cap exists for the prosecution), resulting in what State Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero has referred to as "some of the worst lawyering" he has ever witnessed (Payne 2006)."

Tags:execution, lethal, capital

Abstract
In this paper, the writer discusses the death penalty, including specific major players. The writer looks at the opinions that the liberals and conservatives have on the issue. This paper discusses what the legislative, executive, and judicial branch are doing regarding the death penalty. The writer lists pros and cons provided by conservative and liberal groups regarding the death penalty.

From the Paper
"The Supreme Court representing the judicial branch ruled that the death penalty is legal in America. In the Court struck down the capital punishment statutes of states ruling that the ways the States carried out the death penalty violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The Court emphasized that the way executions were conducted was unconstitutional, not the concept of execution itself. Zamgba Browne writes in the 'New York Amsterdam News' that Jesse Jackson applauded the Supreme Court decision to ban the execution ... "

Tags:death penalty, supreme court, cruel and unusual punishment, capitol punishment, statistics, racism

Abstract
The subject of this paper is how race impacts capital punishment verdicts issued by US courts. The author believes that capital punishment is powered by a system of justice that is heavily stacked against people of color. The writer cites several cases that show race as an issue in a death penalty verdicts. Additional statistics are presented that show African-Americans are executed more frequently than whites. The paper includes an extensive literature review. The author concludes that the public should be aware of the facts involved in this issue.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Conceptualization
Methodology
Research Design
Study Group / Sample Population
Conclusion

From the Paper
"And, Adams continues, of the 221 people "executed for interracial murders, 189 - ninety-four percent - have been black." Is there a pattern of blatant racial bias reflected in these data? Adams insists that "racism...pervades America's criminal justice system," and she wonders, "How is it that racism, as one of the most deplorable features of contemporary society, is able to establish a position in the purported beacon of objectivity and neutrality that is the law?" In her research article, Adams argues that since the death penalty was "reinvented" (Furman v. Georgia in 1972), the "arbitrariness and caprice" of the "pre-Furman" era is back. "

Tags:capital, punishment, death, penalty, racism, bias, prejudice, African-Americans

Abstract
The paper argues that the United States should eliminate the death penalty for financial and moral purposes. The paper reveals that the costs associated with the death penalty are enormous and in most cases surpass those associated with non-death penalty cases. The paper further contends that the death penalty is meted out unjustly to the poor, minorities and the disabled population. The paper notes the chances of wrongful convictions and stresses how death is irreversible while life in prison is not.

From the Paper
"The United States is one of the only wealthy industrialized nations in the world that still practices capital punishment. The subject of innumerable debates and central in America's political discourse, the death penalty seems like a cruel and outdated method of punishment. In a judicial system that claims to be transparent, unbiased, and egalitarian, the death penalty stands out like a gross anomaly. The death penalty is not practiced in all 50 states but in some like Texas and Florida it is executed with relative frequency. Beyond the ethical issues that surround capital punishment, research suggests that the death penalty is not feasible financially and may even cost more than keeping that individual behind bars for life. Moreover, statistical analysis reveals a disturbing trend on death row: the majority of death row convicts are non-white."

Tags:capital, punishment, discrimination, minorities, poor, racism, convictions

Abstract
A paper about the many flaws of the death penalty and various facts and statistics to back up that opinion. The author covers the subject of racism, geographical bias, mental retardation, economic bias, family vindication and other issues.

From the Paper
"Every year the justice system of the United States through local, state, and federal branches hand down sentences to criminals for various crimes, yet the worst penalty our system has to offer is still capital punishment, referred to in layman's terms as the death penalty. This topic stirs up much debate today, and the fire is only fueled with stories of inmates set free with DNA evidence and controversies involving depression, insanity, and mental retardation making the line blurry on whether a person is competent enough to be held accountable for his/her crime."

Tags:bias, capital, economic, financial, geographical, killing, mental, murder, punishment, racism, retardation, social, stats

Abstract
The paper explores the literature to demonstrate that not only the public, but also politicians, officials and researchers are joining the debate for life rather than death as the harshest form of punishment. The paper discusses how life without parole is a very severe punishment that is a viable alternative for the death penalty, as it does in effect deprive the convicted of life, it addresses the issues surrounding the high proportion of African-American executions and also addresses the main concern of capital punishment, that is the irreversible execution of the innocent.

From the Paper
"Before substantiating their arguments with various interviews and examples, the authors briefly address two objections to life without parole: the first related to public safety, and the second to the appropriateness of the punishment to the crime. These arguments are refuted, as noted above, as invalid on the strength of research findings to the contrary - life without parole prisoners pose no special danger either to prison society or society at large; they also suffer substantially by the permanent removal of their civil lives. According to the authors, this is far worse than the death penalty, as prisoners are made to suffer for the rest of their lives, knowing that there is no reprieve besides death (Johnson & McGunigall-Smith 344).
"Richard C. Dieter also addresses the death penalty on the basis of a public opinion that is shifting towards lifelong incarceration rather than death. Dieter substantiates the issues mentioned above by noting three basic reasons for this phenomenon (Dieter 1). The first is the concern regarding the risk of wrongful execution, overall fairness in the process, and the apparent inability of capital punishment to accomplish the basic purpose of its existence in the first place. Indeed, according to a 2007 opinion poll mentioned by the author, a large amount of citizens believe that a moratorium should be place on all executions, in addition to the belief that
such executions are no deterrent to crime."

Tags:capital, punishment, murder, executions, innocence, incarceration, racism

Abstract
This paper emphasizes the factor of race on death penalty recommendations. It shows through studies and quotes how a person's race can either make them more likely to receive the death penalty, or in some cases less likely. It focuses mainly on the unfair sentencing of African Americans. It also addresses the issue of opposition to this idea, and argues against that opposition. It includes possible solutions to the problem of racism in capital sentencing.

From the Paper
"The United State's legal system, which is supposed to uphold the constitution, is falling short in this endeavor. Equality was guaranteed to us from the very beginnings of this country, yet the death penalty is being issued in a racist and unequal way. People should not have a higher chance of being executed simply because of something irrelevant like their race. Racism in capital punishment was thought to be a problem of the past, but it's still around to this day."

Tags:african, american, black, capital, civil, court, execution, prejudice, punishment, rights, sentence