NCJ Number
165578
Editor(s)
G E McCuen
Date Published
1997
Length
168 pages
Annotation
This volume presents 21 readings and lists of discussion questions on capital punishment, with emphasis on differing perspectives on the relationship between capital punishment and race, innocence, and disadvantaged persons such as those with mental retardation and juveniles.
Abstract
The articles focus on past and current methods of execution, the legal factors required to prove racial discrimination under the 14th Amendment, and the concepts of rationality and scrutiny in capital sentencing procedures as opposed to other punishments. Additional papers focus on the proposed Racial Justice Act, mitigating and aggravating circumstances, the chance of mistaken execution of an innocent person, and research on the problem of executing innocents. Further articles examine the relative capabilities of State and Federal courts to handle claims of innocence, indigent defense in post-conviction appeals, habeas corpus reform, the execution of persons with mental retardation, execution of the insane, the death penalty for minors, and executions of women. Illustrations, exercises, tables, index, appended article on the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, and 74 references