SOC 014 Chapter Notes - Chapter NA: Capital Punishment in America: Death Row Phenomenon, Death-Qualified Jury
14 Apr 2020
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8th amendment unequivocally bars cruel and unusual punishments in the united states: but only 16 states and the district of columbia have abolished capital punishment, while 34 states and the federal government still authorize the death penalty. The majority of states on the books continue to make first degree murder a capital crime: while congress has made around 60 offenses death eligible. Jurors for any offense must weigh aggravating versus mitigating factors before deciding whether to impose a death sentence: additionally, a jury cannot impose a death sentence unless the vote is unanimous. Federal executions occur very rarely , with 60 federal prisoners now sitting on death row: but the us government has only executed three inmates since 1976. Of all death penalty states, only a few southern states regularly execute offenders, with texas making up the bulk of the deaths.
