Purposes of Punishment Crime Control Deterrence Incapacitation Rehabilitation Therapeutic Moral Purposes Moral example Demarcation Remediation Retribution Humiliation Penitence

Deterrence Sentence based on effectiveness in reducing rate and severity of criminal harm, not justice Assumes that criminal behavior proceeds from rational calculation Effectiveness highly variable among different types of crime Research shows severity less important than certainty of punishment

Crime Index Offenses Cleared by the Police (20% overall) Murder: 70%Larceny: 20% Agg. Assault: 60% Arson: 15% Rape: 50% Burglary: 15% Robbery: 25%Motor Vehicle Theft: 15%

Persons Executed for Interracial Murders

Other Studies of Racial Disparities In California, killers of whites were more than 3 X more likely to receive death sentences than if they killed minorities (Pierce & Radelet, 2005) In North Carolina, killers of whites were 3.5 X more likely to receive death sentences than if they killed minorities (Boger & Unah, 2001)

Race of Death Row Inmates 2010

North Carolina’s Racial Justice Act of 2009 Death-row inmates have the right to have their sentences commuted to life without parole if they can prove racial bias played a part in their death sentences. Law allows inmates to use data from studies that show bias in the judicial system statewide – need not show individualized evidence.

Support for Death Penalty

Is Death Penalty Fairly Applied,

Who Supports the Death Penalty? SupportOppose Men 6432 Women years old years old years old years & up 6529

Death Sentences

Executions

Death Sentences & Executions