Keywords
capital punishment, death penalty, incapacitation, deterrence, racial bias, retribution, innocence
Document Type
Article
Abstract
The general trend in the use and application of the death penalty is an increasing movement toward abolition. This is reflected in the repeal of state death penalty laws, state moratoriums, and the reduction in executions and death sentences. The nature of the death penalty debate has also changed in the past two decades. Radelet and Borg (2000) provided an exhaustive overview of the nature of the debate surrounding capital punishment. This comment updates and reflects on some of the crucial contemporary scholarship that has been done in the following six central areas: incapacitation, deterrence, caprice and racial bias, retribution, innocence and miscarriages of justice, and cost. The authors also consider emerging frames that are impacting the debate. The main conclusion is that current scholarship continues to have a significant impact on framing the debate as well as creating the potential for the eventual abolition of capital punishment in this country.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://jcjl.pubpub.org/pub/1y6bwlz8
Recommended Citation
Harmon, Talia R.; Taylor, David; and Henning, Chelsea
(2023)
"A Reflection on Contemporary Issues Regarding the Death Penalty,"
Journal of Criminal Justice and Law: Vol. 6:
Iss.
2, Article 1.
DOI: https://jcjl.pubpub.org/pub/1y6bwlz8
Available at:
https://research.library.kutztown.edu/jcjl/vol6/iss2/1