When a violent crime is committed, some people believe the only fair punishment is for the perpetrator to be put to death. Others feel that this practice is inhumane and that no one should be deliberately killed, regardless of what he or she may have done. This volume examines the history of the death penalty, the ways it is administered, and the arguments for and against it. Chapter questions encourage discussion among readers, and detailed charts and compelling sidebars enhance readers’ understanding of this hotly debated topic.
This is a first rate piece of scholarship: well written, deeply researched, fascinating to read, and full of insights and good common sense. It is, in my view, one of the finest books to deal with this troubled and troubling subject.
Experts on both side of the issue speak out both for and against capital punishment and the rationale behind their individual beliefs.
Collected essays analyze and evaluate the practice of capital punishment, and present arguments for and against it
An up-to-date examination of legal changes and shifting attitudes surrounding capital punishment
NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • A deeply reported, searingly honest portrait of the death penalty in Texas—and what it tells us about crime and punishment in America “If you’re one of those people who despair that nothing changes ...
" The Court's decisions, however, do not moot the controversy about the death penalty or render this excellent book irrelevant. The ball is now in the court of the Legislature and the Executive.
Explores the controversy surrounding capital punishment, discussing how it works; arguments for and against it; the role of religion in the debate; and special considerations involved with its use.
A study of capital punishment issues, including American attitudes, deterrence problems, and discussions for and against the death penalty.
Discusses the history of the death penalty, the different methods of execution, and how public opinion changes based on the legal and ethical issues that surround this controversial issue.
16, 1995 (ritter's testimony begins at about the forty-minute mark). he repeated many of his points in his testimony eighteen days later to the senate appropriations committee, February 3, 1995. audio recordings of the hearings are ...