Capital Punishment - 9780816057085

Praise for the previous edition:
"Essential for all libraries."—Choice
With recent advances in DNA testing of stored forensic evidence and ongoing efforts by volunteer advocates, more and more inmates have been found innocent, and opponents of the death penalty argue that many more may be executed for crimes they did not commit if the laws are not changed. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 35 people on death row have been exonerated since the year 2000. The legal definition of who is eligible for the death penalty is also changing. For instance, in 2002 in Atkins v. Virginia the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to execute people with mental retardation. These and other important changes make the third edition of Capital Punishment an invaluable reference and research guide to this controversial issue.

Providing approximately 25 percent new material and significant updates, Capital Punishment, Third Edition is especially current. The bibliography has been expanded, and the introduction and certain legal cases have been updated. The chronology now includes appropriate events and policy changes. Since the publication of the last edition, the biographical listings, glossary, and organizations chapters have been revisited. The annotated bibliography and appendixes have been updated to include new sources and recent information. Providing readers with clear and essential information needed to define, understand, and research this important issue, this book is perfect for anyone interested in issues related to capital punishment, including policymakers, administrators, and attorneys, as well as teachers, students, parents, and the general public.