Capital Punishment

• Study Guide
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Capital Punishment | Chapter 4: Should Capital Punishment Be Abolished?

• Chapter 4 Preface

• The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished

  by Helen Prejean, interviewed by Vicki Quade

• The Death Penalty Should Be Retained

  by Justice for All

• Capital Punishment Should Not Be Applied Unless Absolutely Necessary

  by Renato Martino

• Capital Punishment Deserves Cautious Support

  by James Nuechterlein

• Life Without Parole Is Preferable to the Death Penalty

  by Bob Herbert

• The Death Penalty Is Preferable to Life Without Parole

  by Wesley Lowe

• Mentally Disadvantaged Killers Should Not Be Sentenced to Death

  by Michael B. Ross

• The Mental Competence of a Murderer Can Be Difficult to Determine

  by Sam Howe Verhovek

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1. Introduction
2. Chapter 1: Is Capital Punishment Ethical?
   1. Chapter 1 Preface
   2. Capital Punishment Is Moral
   3. Capital Punishment Is Reasonable
   4. Capital Punishment Is Not Barbaric
   5. The State Has a Right to Execute Violent Criminals
   6. Capital Punishment Is Not Morally Justified
   7. Execution Is Inhumane
   8. Capital Punishment Undermines the Sacredness of Life
3. Chapter 2: Is Capital Punishment Administered Fairly?
   1. The Death Penalty and Fairness: An Overview
   2. Capital Punishment Is Applied Unfairly
   3. Racism Influences Death- Sentence Decisions
   4. The Litigation Process for Capital Defendants Is Unfair
   5. Reforms Are Needed to Prevent the Execution of Innocent People
   6. Claims About the Unfairness of Capital Punishment Are Unfounded
   7. Capital Punishment Is Not Applied Unfairly to Blacks
   8. Unfair Application of Capital Punishment Does Not Justify Abolishing It
   9. The Death Penalty Should Be Carried Out More Promptly
4. Chapter 3: Is Capital Punishment an Effective Deterrent to Crime?
   1. The Death Penalty and Deterrence: An Overview
   2. Capital Punishment Is a Deterrent
   3. Society Needs the Death Penalty to Deter Murderers
   4. Executions Reduce the Murder Rate
   5. Capital Punishment Is Not a Deterrent
   6. Capital Punishment May Cause Violence to Increase
5. Chapter 4: Should Capital Punishment Be Abolished?
   1. Chapter 4 Preface
   2. The Death Penalty Should Be Abolished
   3. The Death Penalty Should Be Retained
   4. Capital Punishment Should Not Be Applied Unless Absolutely Necessary
   5. Capital Punishment Deserves Cautious Support
   6. Life Without Parole Is Preferable to the Death Penalty
   7. The Death Penalty Is Preferable to Life Without Parole
   8. Mentally Disadvantaged Killers Should Not Be Sentenced to Death
   9. The Mental Competence of a Murderer Can Be Difficult to Determine
6. Organizations to Contact
7. Bibliography
8. Copyright

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