Overview

This book addresses the myriad controversies and examines the evidence regarding capital punishment in America. It answers questions regarding topics like the efficacy of capital punishment in deterring violent crime, the risks of mistakes, legal issues related to capital punishment, and the monetary costs of keeping inmates on death row. Does the possibility of being put to death deter crime? Do the methods of execution matter? Is it possible for a state-ordered execution to be botched? Are innocent people ever sent to death row? Are there racial biases or other prejudices associated with the death penalty? This book examines the history of capital punishment in the United States; describes the significant issues, events, and cases; and addresses the controversies and legal issues surrounding capital punishment, making this important topic accessible to a wide range of readers. The book presents both sides of the argument on whether capital punishment should continue or be abolished, looking at the evidence regarding whether it is necessary for carrying out justice and deterring violent crime or whether the practice is inhumane, ineffective, biased in its application, and costly. Readers will gain insights into how capital punishment should be used, if at all; whether effective safeguards are in place to ensure that only the guilty receive the death penalty; what crimes deserve this sentence; whether juveniles or individuals with diminished mental capacity should ever be sentenced to death; potentially viable alternatives to the death penalty; and the hidden costs involved in our capital punishment system that make it so expensive. The book also contains primary documents relevant to capital punishment, such as excerpts from documents like the U.S. Constitution, the Hittite case laws, and the Code of Hammurabi, as well as descriptions of and excerpts from key cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Full Product Details

Author:   Joseph A. Melusky (Saint Francis University, USA) ,  Keith A. Pesto
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   ABC-CLIO
Weight:   0.794kg
ISBN:  

9781440845499

ISBN 10:   1440845492
Pages:   392
Publication Date:   22 June 2017
Recommended Age:   From 7 to 17 years
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

"Preface, Acknowledgments, 1 Background and History, Introduction, The Death Penalty before It Was Capital Punishment, How Did This History Affect Capital Punishment in the United States?, So Why Does the Eighth Amendment Ban Cruel and Unusual Punishment?, How Did the Ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishment Become Linked to the Death Penalty?, Capital Punishment in the New Republic, The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment Changes the Bill of Rights, So Does Due Process ""Incorporate"" a Ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishment?, References, 2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions, Introduction, What Is the Constitutional Status of Capital Punishment?, The Supreme Court Expands ""Cruel and Unusual"" to Mean ""Excessive,"" The Supreme Court Bans and Restarts Capital Punishment in Furman v. Georgia (1972) and Gregg v. Georgia (1976), Is the Death Penalty Available for Any Crime Other Than First-Degree Murder?, Is a Mandatory Death Penalty Ever Permissible?, Guiding the Jury's Discretion, Mitigation, Age as a Mitigating Factor? Juveniles at the Supreme Court, Juveniles and Other Crimes: Are They a Guide to Future Cases?, Is First-Degree Murder Enough to Warrant the Death Penalty or Must There Be Aggravating Circumstances?, What Aggravating Factors Are Permissible?, Who Can Decide on the Death Penalty?, What Defendants Are Incapable of Deserving the Death Penalty?, How Can the Jury Be Selected?, The Role of Statistics, Victim Impact, In the End, How Can Executions Be Carried Out?, Life without Parole?, Conclusion and ""Last"" Words, References, 3 Perspectives, Introduction, Does the Death Penalty Deter Homicide? by Rudolph J. Gerber, The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished—For Very Practical Reasons by Richard C. Dieter, Capital Punishment Should Not Be Abolished in the United States by Brett R. Meltzer, Retaining the Death Penalty: Sociopolitical Support by Kim MacInnis, Gender and Capital Punishment by Elizabeth Rapaport, Death Row Exonerations and Conviction Integrity by John Rago, Capital Punishment and Public Confidence in the Criminal Justice System by Gov. Tom Corbett, 4 Profiles, Introduction, American Bar Association, American Law Institute, Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Bedau, Hugo Adam (1926–2012), Blackmun, Justice Harry A. (1908–1999), Brennan, Justice William J. (1906–1997), Breyer, Justice Stephen (1938– ), Federal Death Penalty Act (1994), Innocence Protection Act (2004), Kasi, Mir Aimal (1964–2002), Kennedy, Justice Anthony (1936– ), NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., O'Connor, Justice Sandra Day (1930– ), Powell, Justice Lewis F. (1907–1998), Prejean, Sister Helen (1939– ), Rehnquist, Chief Justice William H. (1924–2005), Roberts, Chief Justice John (1955– ), Scalia, Justice Antonin (1936–2016), Sellin, Thorsten (1896–1994), Soering, Jens (1966– ), Stevens, Justice John Paul (1920– ), Tucker, Karla Faye (1959–1998), Van Den Haag, Ernest (1914–2002), Vickers, Robert Wayne (""Bonzai Bob"") (1958–1999), References, 5 Data and Documents, Introduction, Data, Table 5.1. Number of U.S. Executions since Gregg v. Georgia (1976), Race and the Death Penalty, Table 5.2. Race of Executed Defendants, Table 5.3. Race of Victims in Cases Resulting in Execution, Table 5.4. Race of Death Row Inmates, Table 5.5. Interracial Murders and Execution Rates, Executions by State and Region, Table 5.6. Number of Executions in States since 1976, Table 5.7. Executions by Region since 1976, Table 5.8. Murder Rates per 100,000, Table 5.9. Methods Used for Executions since 1976, Table 5.10. Opinions on the Death Penalty, Documents, Code of Hammurabi (ca. 1780 BCE), The Bible, Book of Exodus (ca. 1300 BCE), The Twelve Tables (ca. 450 BCE), The Magna Carta (June 15, 1215), The English Bill of Rights (1689), The American Declaration of Independence (1776), Ordinance of the Northwest Territory (1787), Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Callins v. Collins (1994), United Nations Resolution on the Use of the Death Penalty (December 20, 2012), 6 Resources, Introduction, General Information and Background, Electronic Resources, Organizations, 7 Chronology, Introduction, 19th century, 20th century, Glossary, Index, About the Authors,"

Reviews

This complex book will work best for sophisticated learners who may appreciate in-depth information for reports, debates, or other projects. The book includes additional resources, a timeline, and an index. Recommended. - ARBAonline

This complex book will work best for sophisticated learners who may appreciate in-depth information for reports, debates, or other projects. The book includes additional resources, a timeline, and an index. Recommended. * ARBAonline * General readers and scholars at all levels alike will find value in this well-organized and informative resource. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. * Choice *

This complex book will work best for sophisticated learners who may appreciate in-depth information for reports, debates, or other projects. The book includes additional resources, a timeline, and an index. Recommended. - ARBAonline General readers and scholars at all levels alike will find value in this well-organized and informative resource. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. - Choice

Author Information

Joseph A. Melusky, PhD, is professor of political science at Saint Francis University (SFU), director of the SFU Center for the Study of Government and Law, and Coordinator of Public Administration/Government Service. Keith A. Pesto has been a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania since 1994.

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