Assignment:
Many argue that the U.S. justice system is the best in the world. Within that context, there are different debates about the efficacy of the death penalty.
- Look at the states that still have the death penalty. What are the similarities in the states' approaches to the death penalty? How do they justify the legality of the death penalty in their state?
- What demographic populations are more likely to receive a death sentence? What do your findings suggest? Why is this of importance to a criminologist?
- Research other nations that still use the death penalty as punishment. How is it applied in that nation and for what crimes?
- Why have so many nations, including those of the European Union, abolished the death penalty? How the reasons for abolishing the death penalty reflective of what you have studied thus far in the course?