Sociology 2260A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Homicide
25 Apr 2016
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Capital punishment is the most severe form of punishment, continued to be in the us. The death penalty will mostly affect minority groups and blacks. This has to do with the quality of the legal help that is available. If you can afford to hire and be represented by a lawyer you will have a much better defense. The research has shown the lives of whites are more valued as compared to the lives of blacks. Prosecutors are far more likely to seek a death penalty if you"re a white person. Both prosecutors are more likely to hand down the death penalty when the victim is white. In the 70s in the us the furman vs georgia. They said the death penalty is unconstitutional and it was overturned. The court argued there wasn"t strict guidelines in terms of deciding the sentences. In 1976 the court approved guidelines and it was reinstated. Societal needs: murder violates the right to life.
