Capital Punishment Theory and Practice of the Ultimate Penalty

The text covers the history of the death penalty in the U.S. from colonial times to the present day; the relevant landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases from Furman v. Georgia (1972) onwards; the history of public opinion and how it shapes the debate on capital punishment; the history of U.S. execution
methods; deterrence; racial disparity in the application of the death penalty; wrongful convictions; the costs associated with capital punishment; and federal, military, and international death penalties.

FEATURES

Incorporates "Perspectives from the Field" boxes in most chapters that add valuable insights from people who have been personally involved in capital cases, including a judge, a prosecutor, a neuroscientist, a former death-row resident, and other key practitioners in the field

Explores the process by which "hard" science (DNA) is used to address exoneration and mitigation, in terms that are understandable to students

Includes an in-depth discussion of why we punish wrongdoers, examining why our urge to punish is so strong

An open-access Companion Website provides chapter outlines, chapter learning objectives, sample quiz/exam questions, and links to helpful websites