| Description |
x, 205 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Summary |
"This book explores the various trends in public opinion that influence crime prevention efforts, create public policy, and reform criminal law. It discusses three core issues: the role of free will and determination; the search for the root cause or causes of crime; and the effects of studying crimes versus studying criminals"--Provided by publisher. |
| Contents |
List of tables and figures -- Preface -- 1. Framing the debate -- Introduction -- Historical overview -- The regionalization of execution -- Opposition to the death penalty -- The Furman decision -- The post-Furman debate -- A picture of the present -- The major questions -- 2. The question of cruel and unusual punishment -- Introduction : the slave Darby -- What is cruel and unusual? -- Public execution -- The method of execution -- Why must execution be painless? -- 3. The question of discrimination -- Introduction -- McCleskey v. Kemp -- Further research -- Gender and the death sentence -- Bias and arbitrariness -- 4. The question of due process -- Introduction : what is due process? -- The capital trial -- Victim impact evidence -- Competent counsel -- 5. The question of deterrence -- Introduction -- Two waves of research -- Is deterrence relevant? -- 6. The question of culpability -- Introduction -- The intellectually disabled -- Juvenile offenders -- The mentally ill -- The non-triggerman -- Summary -- 7. The question of scripture -- Introduction -- The scriptural debate -- The positions of the churches -- The early church -- Summary -- 8. The question of innocence -- Introduction -- An example case -- DNA evidence -- 9. The question of justice -- Doing justice -- The myth of closure -- 10. The current situation -- Introduction -- The question of cost -- Modern explanations for our death penalty attitudes -- The current situation -- Appendices -- A. The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment (2008) -- B. The California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (2008) -- C. The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission (2007) -- D. The Tennessee Death Penalty Assessment (2007) -- Chapter notes -- Bibliography -- Index. |
| Subject |
Capital punishment -- United States.
|
|
Capital punishment. |
|
United States. |
|
Corrections -- United States.
|
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Corrections. |
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Executions and executioners.
|
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Executions and executioners. |
|
Criminal law -- United States.
|
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Criminal law. |
|
Punishment.
|
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Punishment. |
|
Crime -- United States.
|
|
Crime. |
|
Criminal law. |
| ISBN |
9780786433681 softcover alkaline paper |
|
078643368X softcover alkaline paper |
|
