Death Penalty in a Nutshell 2005

by Streib, Victor L.

• ISBN13: 9780314158833
• ISBN10: 0314158839
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-30
• Publisher: West Academic

Summary

Covering both the substantive law and the procedural law of the death penalty, this title begins with the arguments for and against the death penalty and an explanation of its basic constitutional challenges and limitations. Major sections cover capital crimes and defenses, as well as trial level and post-trial procedural issues. Special topics such as race and gender bias and executing the innocent are included, as well as a section on international and foreign law issues. This Nutshell serves both as supplemental reading for students in death penalty courses and as a concise, narrative explanation of death penalty law.

Table of Contents

PREFACE	V
TABLE OF CASES	XV
PART I. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Chapter 1. History and Evolution	1	(8)
§ 1.1 Pre-American Period	1	(3)
§ 1.2 Colonial Period to 1970s	4	(2)
§ 1.3 Current Death Penalty Era	6	(3)
Chapter 2. Arguments for and Against the Death Penalty	9	(18)
§ 2.1 Retribution and Symbolism	10	(4)
§ 2.2 Incapacitation and Deterrence	14	(3)
§ 2.3 Bias, Caprice, and Error	17	(5)
§ 2.4 Other Concerns	22	(5)
Chapter 3. Basic Constitutional Challenges and Limitations	27	(15)
§ 3.1 Critical Provisions of the United States Constitution	27	(6)
§ 3.2 Pre-1970's Supreme Court Rulings	33	(3)
§ 3.3 Early 1970's: An End to the Old Way	36	(6)
Chapter 4. Constitutional Parameters of the Current Era Death Penalty	42	(13)
§ 4.1 Approving the Current Era Death Penalty System	43	(5)
§ 4.2 Rejecting Mandatory Death Penalties	48	(3)
§ 4.3 Post-1976 Major Constitutional Rulings	51	(4)
PART II. SUBSTANTIVE CRIMINAL LAW ISSUES
Chapter 5. Defining Capital Crimes	55	(14)
§ 5.1 Basic Premises of Crime And Punishment	55	(5)
§ 5.2 Historical Evolution of Capital Crime Category	60	(4)
§ 5.3 Narrowing to Murder in the Current Era	64	(4)
§ 5.4 Re-Expanding Capital Crime Categories	68	(1)
Chapter 6. Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances	69	(24)
§ 6.1 Requirements and Limitations	70	(7)
§ 6.2 Common Aggravating Circumstances	77	(5)
§ 6.3 Common Mitigating Circumstances	82	(5)
§ 6.4 Discriminatory Impact and Unintended Consequences	87	(6)
Chapter 7. Special Defenses	93	(14)
§ 7.1 Insufficient Criminal Intent	93	(3)
§ 7.2 Below Minimum Age	96	(3)
§ 7.3 Mentally Retarded	99	(3)
§ 7.4 Legal Insanity	102	(5)
PART III. TRIAL-LEVEL PROCEDURAL ISSUES
Chapter 8. Overview of Arrest Through Execution	107	(18)
§ 8.1 Police and Prosecutor Stages	108	(4)
§ 8.2 Trial Court Stages	112	(5)
§ 8.3 Appellate Court Stages	117	(4)
§ 8.4 Clemency and Execution	121	(4)
Chapter 9. Jury Selection and Role of Jurors	125	(14)
§ 9.1 History and Power of Death Penalty Juries	126	(1)
§ 9.2 Death-Qualifying Juries	127	(5)
§ 9.3 Life-Qualifying Juries and Other Concerns	132	(4)
§ 9.4 Other Jury Concerns	136	(3)
Chapter 10. Guilt Stage of Trial Process	139	(18)
§ 10.1 Defendants, Defense Attorneys, Prosecutors, and Judges	139	(5)
§ 10.2 State's Evidence	144	(6)
§ 10.3 Defense Evidence	150	(4)
§ 10.4 Jury Verdict	154	(3)
Chapter 11. Sentencing Stage of Trial Process	157	(20)
§ 11.1 State's Evidence	158	(5)
§ 11.2 Defense Evidence	163	(6)
§ 11.3 Jury Decision	169	(8)
PART IV. POST-TRIAL PROCEDURAL ISSUES
Chapter 12. Appeals Process	177	(17)
§ 12.1 Courts and Procedures	178	(7)
§ 12.2 Issues	185	(3)
§ 12.3 Results	188	(6)
Chapter 13. Post-Conviction Challenges	194	(10)
§ 13.1 Courts and Procedures	194	(5)
§ 13.2 Issues	199	(2)
§ 13.3 Results	201	(3)
Chapter 14. Clemency and Execution Proceedings	204	(17)
§ 14.1 Clemency Procedures and Standards	205	(4)
§ 14.2 Prisoner's Eligibility for Execution	209	(4)
§ 14.3 Execution Methods and Procedures	213	(8)
PART V. SPECIAL DEATH PENALTY ISSUES
Chapter 15. Assistance of Defense Counsel	221	(19)
§ 15.1 Constitutional Right to Counsel	222	(8)
§ 15.2 Unique Role in Death Penalty Cases	230	(5)
§ 15.3 Problems and Solutions	235	(5)
Chapter 16. Race, Gender, and Other Biases	240	(12)
§ 16.1 Race Bias	241	(4)
§ 16.2 Gender Bias	245	(4)
§ 16.3 Other Biases	249	(3)
Chapter 17. Executing the Innocent	252	(16)
§ 17.1 Categories of Innocence	253	(5)
§ 17.2 Impact on Death Penalty System	258	(4)
§ 17.3 Avoiding Innocence Errors	262	(6)
Chapter 18. Foreign and International Law Issues	268	(19)
§ 18.1 Death Penalty in Foreign Countries	269	(4)
§ 18.2 Treaties and Other International Agreements	273	(7)
§ 18.3 United States Response to International Pressures	280	(7)
Postscript. Future of the Death Penalty	287	(6)
INDEX	293