http://nicic.gov/Features/Library/?Tag=34The latest electronic resources added to the National Institute of Corrections online library for the topic of Capital punishment.The “prospect of saving states hundreds of millions of dollars by ending the death penalty” is examined (p. 6). Sections following an executive summary: introduction; the views of law enforcement—police chiefs poll regarding the death penalty; the crisis facing state criminal justice systems; how much the death penalty costs--on average $11 million to $250 million per case; the costs of the death penalty cannot be reduced; why the death penalty costs so much; what society receives in return; and conclusion.http://nicic.gov/Library/0241831/11/2010 12:59:34 PMThe ability of statistical evidence to show that the death penalty decreases the number of homicides is examined. Six sections comprise this article: theory—what the implications of the death penalty for homicide rates are; a century of murders and executions; the importance of comparison groups; panel data methods; instrumental variables estimates; and a partial reconciliation—lack of statistical power and reporting bias. The authors’ “estimates suggest not just “reasonable doubt” about whether there is any deterrent effect of the death penalty, but profound uncertainty” (p. 794).http://nicic.gov/Library/0241821/11/2010 12:16:03 PMhttp://nicic.gov/Library/serial100712/31/2009 7:36:08 AMThe author's intent is "to explain why statistical studies concerning race bias in capital selection have limitations as proof but also strong suggestive power that some death sentences amount to 'cruel and unusual punishments'" (p. 1). Sections of this paper include: the deserts limitation in the Eighth Amendment -- the government can only impose a death sentence on the person who deserves it; the capital selection process and the deserts limitation; the statistical studies of racial influences in the selection process; the Eighth Amendment significance of the studies; and the influence of these studies on the Supreme Court.http://nicic.gov/Library/0239889/29/2009 11:23:09 AMThe implication that results from DNA testing are more "true" due to their scientific nature is examined. Sections in addition to an abstract include: introduction; the age of innocence; a new kind of exoneration; DNA profiling; the authority of "science"; epistemological closure; the double-edged sword of science; DNA as a "truth machine"; and conclusion.http://nicic.gov/Library/0237966/18/2009 8:26:31 AMProceedings regarding the repeal of New Jersey’s death penalty are presented. Sections are: introductory note; timeline; speaker biographies; “Herald of Change? New Jersey's Repeal of the Death Penalty” by George W. Cook; Call to Order and Welcome; “Keynote Address: The Dynamic Interaction Between Courts, Legislature, and Public Opinion” by James R. Zazzali; “Panel I: The Struggle in the Courtroom”: “Panel II: The Death Penalty on Appeal: Constitutionality, Equality, and Proportionality Review”; Address by Jon S. Corzine; Legislative Resolution Presented to Celeste Fitzgerald for the New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; “Panel III: Legislative Moratorium and the N.J. Death Penalty Study Commission”; and “Panel IV: The Final Act -- Repeal: Marshalling the Votes.”http://nicic.gov/Library/0237395/19/2009 9:15:28 AMThe abolishment of the death penalty in New Jersey is described. This paper is divided into seven parts: introduction; treating like cases alike -- proportionality review; reflections on proportionality review; courts, legislators, and the citizenry; constitutional impossibility; repeal; and conclusion -- why New Jersey -- the bellweather state.http://nicic.gov/Library/0237375/14/2009 9:34:43 AMIssues surrounding legal challenges to the use of lethal injection are discussed. This chapter contains sections covering: background; brief history of execution methods; lethal injection's perplexing perpetuation -- how states resist changing execution methods, surge in lethal injection challenges, role of medical professionals, and lessons learned from lethal injection challenges; the Supreme Court rules -- perspective on Baze v. Rees; and conclusion. "This chapter suggests that lethal injection challenges be dissociated from the larger abolitionist picture" (p. 27).http://nicic.gov/Library/0236914/21/2009 11:44:00 AMThe worldwide practice of capital punishment is examined. This report is divided into these sections: overview; countdown to a death penalty free world; the global picture; positive trends -- moving towards global abolition of the death penalty; regional trends for Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, the Americas, Sub-Sahara Africa, and Europe and Central Asia; reported executions for 2008; and reported death sentences for 2008.http://nicic.gov/Library/0236834/14/2009 6:13:10 PMCharacteristics of individuals sentenced to die as of December 31, 2007 along with those individuals executed during 2006 are presented. These tables provide information about: capital offenses, by state, 2007; method of execution, by state, 2007; federal capital offenses, 2007; prisoners under sentence of death, by region, state, and race, 2006 and 2007; demographic characteristics of prisoners under sentence of death, 2007; Hispanics and women under sentence of death, by state, 2006 and 2007; age at time of arrest for capital offense and age of prisoners under sentence of death at yearend 2007; criminal history profile for prisoners under sentence of death, by race and Hispanic origin, 2007; number of persons executed by jurisdiction, 1930-2007; executions and other dispositions of inmates sentenced to die, by race and Hispanic origin, 1977-2007; time under sentence of death and execution, by race, 1977-2007; women under sentence of death, by race and state, 12/31/07; persons under sentence of death, by gender, race, and Hispanic origin, 12/31/07; number of inmates received under sentence of death, 1995-2007; number of persons executed, 1977-2007; number of persons executed, by race, Hispanic origin, and method, 1977-2007; elapsed time since sentencing for inmates under sentence of death on 12/31/07, by gender, race, and Hispanic origin; and advance count of executions for 2008.http://nicic.gov/Library/0235612/17/2009 9:33:05 AMThis article explains why constitutional remedies are needed to address "serious flaws" in lethal injection practices. Sections following an abstract are: introduction; an overview of lethal injection -- the three-drug protocol and the Supreme Court's fractured decision in Baze v. Rees; remedial anxieties and lethal injection; political process failures and the need for judicial intervention; the modesty of lethal injection remedies; and conclusion.http://nicic.gov/Library/0234861/13/2009 3:04:30 PMPotential violations of the Eighth Amendment's proscription against cruel and unusual punishment occurring at the Special Confinement Unit (SCU) at USP-Terre Haute are described. Sections of this complaint are: evidence of deliberate indifference to serious medical needs -- provision of health care (i.e., response to medical emergencies, access to acute care and sick call, referrals to specialists, care for prisoners with diabetes, medications, infectious disease, preventive health care, and documentation); failure to provide mental health care; dental care; and noise.http://nicic.gov/Library/02337811/6/2008 1:52:26 PMIssues related to the dysfunction of the death policy process in California are discussed. Contents include: introduction -- charge and nature of inquiry; summary of recommendations; why the system is broken, and what it will take to fix it; available alternatives; administrative reforms; and conclusion. An appendix provides "Federal Grants of Relief in California Capital Cases."http://nicic.gov/Library/0231747/22/2008 3:18:40 PMThe U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the ruling by the Kentucky Supreme Court that the Commonwealth's lethal injection protocol "does not violate the Eighth Amendment because it does not create a substantial risk of wanton and unnecessary infliction of pain, torture, or lingering death" (p. 1-2).http://nicic.gov/Library/0230415/2/2008 3:40:22 PMThe author argues that the unnecessary and inhumane use of pancuronium or similar paralyzing drugs for human lethal injections is illustrated by the ban on their use in the euthanasia of animals. This article is divided into five parts: the problem with curare, a neuromuscular blocking agent; the aesthetic-only procedure for animal euthanasia; state animal euthanasia laws -- a consensus against curate; legislative history -- familiar arguments against curariform drugs; and conclusion.http://nicic.gov/Library/0230234/29/2008 9:13:48 AMThe capricious nature of the death penalty as practices in California is shown by this report about the ten counties that continue to sentence people to death. An executive summary data analysis, and fact sheets comprise this report. Fact sheets include county death sentences 2000-2007, Alameda, Contra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Tulare, and Ventura. The report finds California's death penalty is arbitrary, unnecessary, and a waste of critical resources.http://nicic.gov/Library/0230064/18/2008 9:00:43 AMCosts associated with administering the death penalty, in particular trial expenses, are determined. Sections following an executive summary are: introduction; why the death penalty costs more; what is known about the costs of California's death penalty; recommendations for reform -- revealing the hidden costs; and cost breakdown for trials with most comprehensive accounting. It costs at least $1.1 million more to seek the death penalty than not.http://nicic.gov/Library/0230074/18/2008 9:00:29 AMThe prison and adjudication costs in Maryland of capital-eligible cases with and without the application of the death penalty are determined. This report has these sections: abstract; executive summary; the cost of the death penalty; and results. The cost of a capital-eligible case without the death penalty costs $1.1 million; unsuccessfully seeking the death penalty costs $1.8 million; and a case resulting in the death penalty will cost around $3 million.http://nicic.gov/Library/0229754/4/2008 4:21:00 PMhttp://nicic.gov/Library/serial9752/13/2008 11:45:57 AM"This essay exposes how recent attempts at lethal injection reform have involved unethical and illegal research on prisoners" (p. 1). Sections of this paper are: abstract; introduction; development of lethal injection protocols; recent problems with executions by lethal injection; the history of research with prisoners; state-by-state analysis of lethal injection reform and post-research regulations; objections -- whether lethal injection reform is research or quality control and whether lethal injection reform is a medical procedure; considerations for future reform attempts; and conclusion.http://nicic.gov/Library/02272712/14/2007 1:11:37 PMThe deterrent effect of capital punishment is investigated. These sections follow an abstract: introduction; capital punishment and deterrence; model specification and data; empirical results -- effect of tough sentencing laws and magnitude of the deterrent effect; and concluding remarks. The results of this study "suggest that the legal change allowing executions beginning in 1977 has been associated with significant reductions in homicide" (p. 30).http://nicic.gov/Library/02269611/21/2007 10:10:10 AMProblems with the use of lethal injection as a means of execution are elucidated. Sections of this report include: introduction; background; botched executions; developments in the past decade for the USA, China, Guatemala, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam; medical research into lethal injection executions; medical ethics of lethal injection; conclusion; the introduction of lethal injection executions; and use of organs from executed prisoners in China.http://nicic.gov/Library/02263311/6/2007 12:27:24 PMThe Pennsylvania Death Penalty Assessment Report and supplemental materials can be found at this website. Points of entry are: report executive summary; full Assessment Report; Assessment Guide; Assessment team biographies; Problems with Pennsylvania's Compliance with ABA requirements; Survey of Pennsylvania Citizens' Opinions Regarding Death Penalty; frequently asked questions (faq); and citations for resources on the administration of the death penalty in Pennsylvania.http://nicic.gov/Library/02259610/23/2007 1:44:29 PM"[E]ntrenched obstacles within the criminal justice system [that] impede efforts to recognize those with severe mental illness and to treat them fairly" are investigated (p. 6). Sections following an introduction include: conceptualizing mental illness; legal considerations of mental illness in North Carolina capital cases; application -- practice vs. theory; rationale for reform; solutions -- building a scientific and legal consensus; and conclusion.http://nicic.gov/Library/02257510/11/2007 11:48:24 AMFactors contributing to the probability of death row inmates being executed (since only 10% of those sentenced to the death penalty are actually put to death) are examined. Sections of this article following an abstract are: theory -- individual explanations (extra-legal micro racial accounts and legal factors), contextual explanations (racial threat, political ideology, and partisanship), and additional controls; method; analysis; and discussion -- the findings and wider implications. Results from this study "show that blacks convicted of killing whites are more likely to be executed than other death row offenders" (p. 626).http://nicic.gov/Library/02257310/11/2007 11:48:00 AM