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5.0 out of 5 stars
A clear vision into the miss guided ideas of the American death penalty system, September 29, 2008
This review is from: The Top Ten Death Penalty Myths: The Politics of Crime Control (Hardcover)
Many great people have lived and spoken about the belief of nonviolence against others. The Top Ten Death Penalty Myths is not a book that preaches this or any kind of ideal on violence. Judge Rudolph J. Gerber (ret) and Prof. John J. Johnson take a non biased view and present a list of ideals that most Americans take for granted when considering the ultimate penalty in their criminal system. All though top ten lists have become an Internet sensation for bloggers, these authors list key points and debate on them with the backing of numerous academic resources and personal experience.
The book starts with the ideal that the death penalty creates a positive experience for the community to unite and bond under. Mr. Gerber and Mr. Johnson show how on the creation of the United States, executions were a common public event. Who could pass up free public entertainment in the football-less afternoons of the late 18th century? As time goes on, these executions are moved from the public view into the back corners of prisons away from the public eye. Since no one can see these executions, how can we hold onto the idea that a community bond is being formed. Could we even imagine the field day lawyers and support groups would have with public executions in this day and age? Myth after myth is debated and pointed out for it's inconsistencies to put together an eye opening read on the concept of giving death in the current era of criminal justice.
The list of topics debated are,
1. The Myth of Community Bonding
2. The Myth of the Rule of Law in Capital Cases
3. The Myth of Equal Justice
4. The Myth of Deterrence
5. The Myth of Fidelity to the Constitution
6. The Myth of Humane Execution
7. The Myth of Closure
8. The Myth of Retribution
9. The Myth of Effective Crime Control
10. The Myth of the Dedicated Public Servant
Not only is the book presented in a professional manner, but a bibliography at the end of each chapter is presented with personal notes for verification and starting points on continued exploration. I never felt like I was being preached to or having an idea pushed down my throat. A number of the chapters gave me new insight into the concept of capital punishment through the current legal system and how that effects the United States on many different levels.
Regardless of the kind of punishment you deem appropriate for convicted murders, this book will show you the fallacies of the capital punishment system in America. It is a great read that will be appreciated by anyone looking to understand the criminal justice system or challenge the hold of ignorance in our daily lives. This is not a book on revenge, it is about retribution under the best goals for the public and how miss guided individuals have formed convoluted ideas that polluted common beliefs.
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