Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Case (Paperback)

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• This item: Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Case by Hugo Adam Bedau

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• The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment by Franklin E. Zimring

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• The Death Penalty: An American History by Stuart Banner

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The Death Penalty: An American History by Stuart Banner 4.8 out of 5 stars (8)  $18.45

The Death Penalty in America: Current Controversies (Oxford paperbacks) by Hugo Adam Bedau 4.1 out of 5 stars (14)  $22.45

Ultimate Punishment: A Lawyer's Reflections on Dealing with the Death Penalty by Scott Turow 4.2 out of 5 stars (24)  $9.41

Just Revenge: Costs and Consequences of the Death Penalty by Mark Costanzo 4.5 out of 5 stars (14)  $18.00

Character Is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life by Russell Gough 4.7 out of 5 stars (15)  $13.57

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From the commuting of death sentences to life imprisonment and the pardoning of four death-row prisoners last year by then Illinois governor George Ryan, the death penalty has now come front and center in American consciousness. This collection of essays presents a balanced discussion of the range of issues associated with this debate, including the speech delivered by Ryan when he made his historic decision. The essayists include federal judges, lawyers, and philosophers. Four of the essays argue for the death penalty and four against. Contributors examine the key areas concerning the death penalty: race and economics, the U.S. position on capital punishment in contrast to that of other nations, retribution and morality, the risks of wrongful convictions, the deterrence value of capital punishment, and closure for victims' families. Contributors emphasize their own particular points of view but add to an excellent overview of this life-and-death issue. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"From the commuting of death sentences to life imprisonment and the pardoning of four death-row prisoners last year by former Illinois governor George Ryan, the death penalty has now come front and center in American consciousness. This collection of essays presents a balanced discussion of the range of issues associated with this debate, including the speech delivered by Ryan when he made his historic decision. The essayists include federal judges, lawyers, and philosophers. Four of the essays argue for the death penalty and four against. Contributors examine the key areas concerning the death penalty: race and economics, the U.S. position on capital punishment in contrast to that of other nations, retribution and morality, the risks of wrongful convictions, the deterrence value of capital punishment, and closure for victims families. Contributors emphasize their own particular points of view but add to an excellent overview of this life-and-death issue." --Booklist

"The controversies over capital punishment in the United States grow more heated each year, but there is very little discourse by public intellectuals on the meaning and legitimacy of death as a criminal punishment. This collection is an important attempt to fill that gap, to map out the key questions in contention and the evidence available to answer them. It is a civilized and serious examination of a profoundly important fault line in the American legal system." --Franklin E. Zimring, William G. Simon Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley, and author of The Contradictions of American Capital Punishment

"At long last, an intelligent, well-reasoned debate and a much needed balanced discussion of this most serious and vexing issue in our system of criminal justice. Some of the most prominent and outspoken supporters and opponents of capital punishment get to have their say in a thoughtful and reasoned discourse. At least, in this publication, supporters of capital punishment are given equal and appropriate treatment of their views on a subject most often swept under the rug or obscured by emotionalism."--Lynne Abraham, District Attorney of Philadelphia

"Brings fresh energy to an ongoing national conversation. It brings together some of the best thinkers and gets the best out of them. It contains up-to-date commentaries, all of which are lucid, engaging, and provocative. This book will be a singular resource for students of capital punishment for years to come."--Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College

"It is not often that subtlety enters the death penalty debate in America. But Debating the Death Penalty achieves just that by bringing together the views of eight men who have very different ways of thinking about the subject. The book's most unique contribution is the way it reveals the humanity and good faith of those who support the ultimate penalty; as they struggle with the gravity of their own conclusions, they remind us that our compassion and our duties as a civil society must flow toward the victim of crime as well as the accused."--Carla Main, Opinion Page Editor of The National Law Journal

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federal death penalty system, death penalty jurisdictions, capital punishment system, moratorium movement, capital defendants, death penalty deters, death row prisoners, death penalty sentencing, peremptory strikes, death penalty opponents, indigent defense, minority defendants, capital statutes, better deterrent, death penalty statutes, death penalty states, capital cases Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, African American, New York, Minimal Invasion, Colleen Reed, Ralph Myers, Monroe County, Anthony Porter, Chicago Tribune, Hugo Bedau, Northwestern University, Stephen Bright, Valerie West, Hugo Adam Bedau, Jeffrey Fagan, Judge Forrester, Professor Bedau, Sheriff Tate, Steve Mills, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Jeffrey Reiman, Ken Armstrong, Ronda Morrison, Alex Kozinski, Broken System New!
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5 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   8 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced, November 5, 2006 By  A. Harris - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Best Case (Hardcover) If you are looking for balanced arguments for and against the death penalty, this is probably one of the best sources currently available. The book alternates between retentionist and abolitionist papers (those for and those against capital punishment). I have personally found it very hard to find any academic arguments in favour of capital punishment and perhaps the most academic one I have found is in this book - Louis Pojman, who was also the editor of a book on moral philosophy that was used in my philosophy studies in university. This book is mostly focussed on the death penalty as it is experienced in the United States and features some of the most well known figures in the US on this issue (including former Illinois Governor George Ryan). Being most familiar with the abolitionist arguments, I would say that this volume is not completely comprehensive, but it is worthy and I get the feeling that this is not aimed at showing all arguments - just the primary arguments of those speaking - and it does that excellently. It is an excellent book too if you are having trouble understanding 'the other side' in this issue and well worth the read. On a side note, if you are interested in understanding the legal and international perspective of the death penalty I recommend Professor Roger Hood's _The Death Penalty: A Worldwide Perspective_ - the best comprehensive study on the subject I have ever found. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   11 of 17 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Death Penalty Opinions, November 18, 2004 By  Susan C. Snyder "Stephen Taylor Snyder" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Best Case (Hardcover) I believe that the opinions in this book are very enlightening. The co. authors explain their opinions very well and present their views cogently. Paul Cassell's chapter in this book was very convincing and it is very clear to note that he is oneof the leading experts in this field. I highly recomond this book to anybody who is interested in learning about the Death Penalty. Stephen Taylor Snyder Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   1 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars i dont like death, March 22, 2006 A Kid's Review This review is from: Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both Sides Make Their Best Case (Hardcover) the book is really good but the issue makes me cry sometimes.thats why i give it three stars. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 5 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 3.0 out of 5 stars i dont like death the book is really good but the issue makes me cry sometimes.thats why i give it three stars. Published on March 22, 2006 5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Is Very Enlightening -The Death Penalty Is Evil I am on the side that is against the death penalty. I am against capital punishment as I am aware that it is an evil practice. Read more Published on May 13, 2005 by G. Reid Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 5 customer reviews...

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