The Death Penalty

Raymond Paternoster is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Director of the Office of Academic Computing Services at the University of Maryland.Robert Brame is Associate Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina.Sarah Bacon is Visiting Assistant Professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University.

• PART I: THE ENDURING LEGACY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE UNITED STATES; CHAPTER 1. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE EARLY PERIOD: 1608-1929; CHAPTER 2. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE PRE-MODERN PERIOD: 1930-1967; CHAPTER 3. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE MODERN PERIOD: 1977-PRESENT; PART II: LEGAL HISTORY, CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS, AND COMMON JUSTIFICATIONS FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE UNITED STATES; CHAPTER 4. A BRIEF LEGAL HISTORY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE UNITED STATES; CHAPTER 5. CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE UNITED STATES; CHAPTER 6. COMMON JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE DEATH PENALTY; PART III: THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY: ISSUES OF RACE AND HUMAN FALLIBILITY; CHAPTER 7. RACE, THE LAW, AND PUNISHMENT; CHAPTER 8. RACE AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT; CHAPTER 9. PROBLEMS IN ADMINISTERING THE DEATH PENALTY; PART IV: WHAT'S TO COME OF THE DEATH PENALTY; CHAPTER 10. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN AMERICA'S FUTURE

All salient issues and elements of the death penalty debate are thoroughly and carefully presented. The book is comprehensive, timely, engaging, accessible, accurate, and well written.