Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's FutureThe death penalty is one of the most hotly contested issues in America today. Evidence continues to mount that many innocent people have been executed or are currently living on death row, and that minority groups and the poor suffer from a shoddy public defense system and discriminatory application of capital charges. Meanwhile, the myth of deterrence has been revealed to be false, and an increasing number of Americans are beginning to question their support for capital punishment. Legal Lynching offers a succinct, accessible introduction to the debate over the death penalty's history and future, exposing a chilling frequency of legal error, systemic racial and economic discrimination, and pervasive government misconduct. This is an essential book for readers across the political spectrum who wish to cut through the common myths and assumptions about the efficacy and morality of state-sanctioned killing. |
Contents
The Death Penalty and the American Past | 9 |
Myths Lies and Deterrence | 25 |
Sleeping Lawyer Syndrome and Other Tales | 35 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's Future Rev. Jesse Jackson,Bruce Shapiro No preview available - 2003 |
Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's Future Rev. Jesse Jackson,Bruce Shapiro No preview available - 2003 |
Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's Future Jesse Jackson,Bruce Shapiro No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
abolition African-American Alabama American Anthony Porter appeal asked attorney Baldwin Benn Blackmun Bosler Brandley Brandley's campaign capi capital punishment capital trials century Christian Church Commission commit condemned confession Congress counsel crime criminal criminal-justice cutions death penalty death sentences death-row inmates debate over capital decades defense lawyers deterrent DNA testing electric chair exonerated fact false conviction federal death penalty forensic Gary Graham George McFarland George Ryan Georgia growing number Harry Blackmun homicide human Illinois individuals inno issue James Liebman Jesus Judge jury Justice Karla Faye Tucker killer killing legislature lethal injection McCleskey McVeigh ment moral morato moratorium on executions murder national moratorium parole percent person police political politicians Powell prison prosecution prosecutors question racial religious Rickie Ray Rector state's SueZann tence Texas Tibbs tion U.S. Supreme Court United vengeance victim rights voted Wanda Jean white victims witnesses woman