Site Map - Death Penalty

Featured Resources

Projects

US Executions from 1608-2002

Forms of Execution in the United States, 1977 - 2009

State Death Penalty Laws

41 Federal Capital Offenses

Major Death Penalty Cases in the US Supreme Court

Death Row Inmates, 1953-2009

Executions by Country, 2010 (from Amnesty International)

Critical Thinking Video Series: Thomas Edison Electrocutes Topsy the Elephant, Jan. 4, 1903

2012 Presidential Candidates' Positions on the Death Penalty

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Pros and Cons by Issue

Issue: CORE QUESTION

Should the death penalty be allowed?

Q:	Should the death penalty be allowed?

Issue: Background / General

What is the death penalty and capital punishment?

Q:	What is the death penalty and capital punishment?

What makes a death penalty case different from other criminal cases?

Q:	What makes a death penalty case different from other criminal cases?

What are considered capital crimes in the United States?

Q:	What are considered capital crimes in the United States?

What are the forms of execution in the United States?

Q:	What are the forms of execution in the United States?

What are the federal acts and policies governing the death penalty?

Q:	What are the federal acts and policies governing the death penalty?

How are federal and state death penalty standards different?

Q:	How are federal and state death penalty standards different?

Issue: Moral & Ethical Issues

Is the death penalty immoral?

Q:	Is the death penalty immoral?

Should physicians participate in executions?

Q:	Should physicians participate in executions?

What is the Hippocratic Oath?

Q:	What is the Hippocratic Oath?

Issue: Legal Considerations

Is the death penalty unconstitutional?

Q:	Is the death penalty unconstitutional?

Has DNA testing led to significant improvements in the criminal justice system?

Q:	Has DNA testing led to significant improvements in the criminal justice system?

Is poor representation by public defense attorneys a widespread problem in capital cases?

Q:	Is poor representation by public defense attorneys a widespread problem in capital cases?

Is prosecutorial misconduct a widespread problem in capital cases?

Q:	Is prosecutorial misconduct a widespread problem in capital cases?

What is clemency?

Q:	What is clemency?

Does clemency serve as a safeguard in capital punishment cases?

Q:	Does clemency serve as a safeguard in capital punishment cases?

Issue: Deterrence & Retribution

Does the death penalty deter crime?

Q:	Does the death penalty deter crime?

Should executions be made public?

Q:	Should executions be made public?

Should the death penalty be used for retribution?

Q:	Should the death penalty be used for retribution?

Issue: Social Issues

Does a person's race affect the likelihood of him/her receiving the death penalty?

Q:	Does a person's race affect the likelihood of him/her receiving the death penalty?

Does a person's income level affect the likelihood of him/her receiving the death penalty?

Q:	Does a person's income level affect the likelihood of him/her receiving the death penalty?

Should a death penalty moratorium be implemented?

Q:	Should a death penalty moratorium be implemented?

Should victims' opinions matter when considering the death penalty?

Q:	Should victims' opinions matter when considering the death penalty?

Issue: Death Penalty vs. Life in Prison

What is life in prison without parole?

Q:	What is life in prison without parole?

Is life in prison without parole a better option than the death penalty?

Q:	Is life in prison without parole a better option than the death penalty?

Does the death penalty cost less than life in prison without parole?

Q:	Does the death penalty cost less than life in prison without parole?

Issue: Religious Views

Does Buddhism support the death penalty?

Q:	Does Buddhism support the death penalty?

Does Christianity support the death penalty?

Q:	Does Christianity support the death penalty?

Does Hinduism support the death penalty?

Q:	Does Hinduism support the death penalty?

Does Islam support the death penalty?

Q:	Does Islam support the death penalty?

Does Judaism support the death penalty?

Q:	Does Judaism support the death penalty?

Additional Resources

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