Supreme Court Decisions
The Death Penalty
Chapter 17https://homeworkforyouhelper.com/
In This Chapter
Capital Punishment in Context
Supreme Court Decisions
Research on Capital Murder Trials
Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty
The Death Penalty as a Deterrent to Murder
Errors and Mistakes in Death Penalty Cases
Capital Punishment in Context
Statistics
U.S. one of few countries with death penalty
32 states, federal government, military authorize use of death penalty
Four states responsible for 59% of all U.S. executions since 1976: TX, OK, FL, VA; only for aggravated murder
Texas account for 38%
Under federal law, capital crimes include treason, espionage, murder in government official, using WMD
Supreme Court Decisions
Methods
Lethal injections, gas, electrocution, hanging, firing squad
Executions are rare
Perception of strong public support for the death penalty
Influences decision-making of politicians
Occasionally used by the Supreme Court as an indicator of prevailing “standards of decency” among the American public
Death penalty is costly
Supreme Court Decisions
Constitutional Challenges (Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments)
Furman v. Georgia (1972): United States Supreme Court unconstitutional as then administered
Gregg v. Georgia (1976): Guided discretion; bifurcated proceedings
Atkins v. Virginia (2002): Eliminated death sentence for execution of mentally retarded prisoners
Ring v. Arizona (2002): Only jury can make decisions regarding capital punishment
Roper v. Simmons (2005): Prohibits execution of juveniles
Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008): Prohibits execution for child rapist, unless child dies
Baze V, Rees (2008): Lethal injection does not inflect unnecessary or wanton pain
HOT TOPIC
Should we execute the elderly?
Most inmates die of natural causes on death row before they are sent to the execution chamber.
