The Ethics of Capital Punishment

by Christine Watkins (Editor)

Overview

Is capital punishment morally justified? Does it violate the Constitution? What moral ambiguities surround physician participation? Will legislation help prevent racial bias in death penalty convictions? Supporting key Social Studies curriculum, this compendium of opinion on the moral and ethical issues surrounding capital punishment offers readers a set of diverse viewpoints with which to form an educated opinion. Includes primary and secondary sources from a variety of perspectives; eyewitnesses, scientific journals, government officials, and many others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737751727
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	03/11/2011
Series:	At Issue Series: Social Issues
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

About the Author

B01

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 The Death Penalty Violates the Constitution of the United States Justice John Paul Stevens 10

2 The Death Penalty Does Not Violate the U. S. Constitution Justice Antonin Gregory Scalia 16

3 Capital Punishment Is Morally Justified Casey Carmical 23

4 The Death Penalty Deters Murder: Center for Individual Freedom 31

5 The Death Penalty Has Not Been Proven to Deter Murder Jeremy J. Collins 35

6 Capital Punishment Should Never Be Considered in Child Rape Cases Justice Anthony McLeod Kennedy 39

7 Capital Punishment Should Be Considered in Certain Child Rape Cases Justice Samuel Anthony Alito 50

8 Legislation Will Help Prevent Racial Bias in Death Penalty Convictions Desiree Evans 57

9 Legislation Will Not Help Prevent Racial Bias in Death Penalty Convictions Tara Servatius 61

10 Physician Participation in Executions Is Unethical Daniel N. Lerman 65

11 Physician Participation in Executions Is Not Unethical Dudley Sharp 73

12 The Death Penalty Violates Human Rights: Amnesty International 80

13 The Death Penalty Should Be Decided Only Under a Specific Guideline Louis Klarevas 88

14 Capital Punishment Is Too Expensive to Retain Richard C. Dieter 93

15 Women Are More Often Spared the Death Penalty Gabrielle Banks 102

Organizations to Contact 109

Bibliography 115

Index 123

Editorial Reviews

Review: The Ethics of Capital Punishment "Each well-chosen selection raises fascinating questions about the legal and ethical aspects of each issue, inviting teens' empathy with personal histories as well as facts. With up-to-date, relevant resource lists and expertly edited selections, these volumes, like others in the venerable series, are natural choices to support high-school debates and classroom discussion."—Booklist, March 2011

From the Publisher