Promotional Information

When is the death penalty considered "cruel and unusual punishment" or "constitutionally permissible"? This book exposes readers directly to landmark opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court that strive to answer difficult questions regarding capital punishment.

Table of Contents

Preface,
Background,
Chapter 1 Introduction,
Cases: Evolving Standards of Decency and the U.S. Supreme Court's Responses to the Death Penalty,
Chapter 2 The Road from Wilkerson to Furman: 1878–1971,
Death by Firing Squad,
Wilkerson v. Utah March 17, 1879
Death by Electrocution,
In re Kemmler May 23, 1890
Second Attempts at Execution,
Louisiana ex rel. Francis v. Resweber January 13, 1947
Other Types of Cruel and Unusual Punishment,
Trop v. Dulles March 31, 1958
Changing Court Opinion,
Justice Arthur Goldberg, Memorandum to the Conference October term, 1963
Selection of Jurors,
Witherspoon v. Illinois June 3, 1968
Standardizing the Death Penalty,
McGautha v. California May 3, 1971
Chapter 3 From Furman to Gregg: 1972–1976,
Suspending the Death Penalty,
Furman v. Georgia June 29, 1972
Reinstating the Death Penalty,
Gregg v. Georgia July 2, 1976
Chapter 4 After Gregg: 1976–1982,
Mandatory Death Penalties,
Woodson v. North Carolina July 2, 1976
Death Penalty for Rape,
Coker v. Georgia June 29, 1977
Mitigating Factors,
Lockett v. Ohio July 3, 1978
Aggravating Factors,
Godfrey v. Georgia May 19, 1980
Additional Mitigating Factors,
Eddings v. Oklahoma January 19, 1982
Chapter 5 Proportionality, Culpability, and Fitting the Punishment to the Crime: 1982–1989,
Limits on the Death Penalty for Accomplices,
Enmund v. Florida July 2, 1982
Repeat Offender Statutes,
Solem v. Helm June 28, 1983
Execution of the Insane,
Ford v. Wainwright June 26, 1986
Allowing the Death Penalty for Accomplices,
Tison v. Arizona April 21, 1987
Use of Statistics Showing Racial Bias,
McCleskey v. Kemp April 22, 1987
Death Penalty for Those under Age 16,
Thompson v. Oklahoma June 29, 1988
Death Penalty for Those under Age 18,
Stanford v. Kentucky June 26, 1989
Execution of the Mentally Retarded,
Penry v. Lynaugh June 26, 1989
Chapter 6 From Harmelin to Ring: 1991–2002,
Life Sentences for Drug Possession,
Harmelin v. Michigan June 27, 1991
Justice Blackmun Reconsiders the Death Penalty,
Callins v. Collins February 22, 1994
Continuing Incarceration of Sex Offenders,
Kansas v. Hendricks June 23, 1997
Prohibiting the Execution of the Mentally Retarded,
Atkins v. Virginia June 20, 2002
Who Can Levy a Death Sentence?,
Ring v. Arizona June 24, 2002
Chapter 7 Issues and Prospects for the 21st Century: Are Death Rows Facing Death Throes?,
Execution of Minors,
Roper v. Simmons March 1, 2005
Death by Lethal Injection,
Baze and Bowling v. Rees April 14, 2008
Death Penalty for Rape of a Child,
Kennedy v. Louisiana June 25, 2008
Chapter 8 Locked Up for Life?: Juvenile Offenders and Ever-Evolving Standards of Decency,
Juvenile Life without Parole for Nonhomicide Crimes,
Graham v. Florida May 17, 2010
Mandatory Life without Parole for Homicide by Juveniles,
Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs June 25, 2012
Conclusions,
Chapter 9 Concluding Observations,
Chapter 10 Chronology,
Chapter 11 Links and Resources,
Index,
About the Authors,

About the Author

Joseph A. Melusky, PhD, is professor of political science, director of the SFU Center for the Study of Government and Law, and coordinator of public administration/government service at Saint Francis University.

Keith A. Pesto, JD, has been a federal Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania since 1994.

Reviews

[V]isionary writers assess associated content and offer unique contributions. They envision what their historical contribution might accomplish and forecast reader requirements that enhance positive audience reception. Melusky and Pesto earned distinction as visionary writers. Death Penalty represents an outstanding contribution to constitutional safeguards. . . . High schools, colleges, universities, and school systems throughout the United States will conclude that Death Penalty is essential reading.
*ARBAonline*