quote:...a major review of the American system of capital punishment in 2011 found, all across the country, just what Professor Donahue and his students did in Connecticut: the death penalty is still a matter of bad luck, bad lawyers, race and geography
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
Personally, I think I would rather be humanely executed than live the rest of my life in prison. (Not that I ever plan on doing anything that would cause me to be faced with such a choice, natch.)
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"...even the most determined fan of the death penalty would likely not approve of executing the mentally ill, the very young, or those who made only one terrible error and are deeply remorseful."
Um... Have you heard of Texas?
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
They need to factor in election years and media coverage into their findings- nothing arbitrary about judges wanting to appear tough on crime in the media.
They need to also facor in defendant's race and social class, as well as that of the jury. Then factor in premeditation, remorse, how long it's been snce the judge got laid, etc.