Disparities in Capital Punishment Practices among U.S. states
Start Date
April 2020
End Date
April 2020
Major Field of Study
Political Science
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Alison Howard, MA
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
While recent research has shown that capital punishment executions in states have decreased since the early 2000s, Texas remains one of the leading states with a drastically higher number of inmates on death row and executions. Texas accounts for more than one third of all executions nationwide since 1977. Florida is also known for having a higher number of people on death row, however, the state does not put to death nearly as many people as Texas does. On the other end of the spectrum, as of 2020, Louisiana has gone ten years without imposing the death penalty upon anyone. These states have similar characteristics, such as demographics, religious affiliation, and political makeup in the state legislature. Yet, it is unclear why they differ in their rates of executing people. This thesis examines these discrepancies to determine why it is that some states implement capital punishment practices at much higher rates than others. In order to understand this issue, this thesis examines capital punishment practices in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida by utilizing case study method. Given that the three states have many demographic similarities, this thesis hypothesizes that states with stricter laws regarding representation of counsel, the roles judges and juries play, and the governor’s power will have lower rates of executions than states with more lenient laws about capital punishment. Examining what causes these differences in rates of capital punishment executions may reveal social and racial inequalities and further the research regarding capital punishment practices between states.
Disparities in Capital Punishment Practices among U.S. states
While recent research has shown that capital punishment executions in states have decreased since the early 2000s, Texas remains one of the leading states with a drastically higher number of inmates on death row and executions. Texas accounts for more than one third of all executions nationwide since 1977. Florida is also known for having a higher number of people on death row, however, the state does not put to death nearly as many people as Texas does. On the other end of the spectrum, as of 2020, Louisiana has gone ten years without imposing the death penalty upon anyone. These states have similar characteristics, such as demographics, religious affiliation, and political makeup in the state legislature. Yet, it is unclear why they differ in their rates of executing people. This thesis examines these discrepancies to determine why it is that some states implement capital punishment practices at much higher rates than others. In order to understand this issue, this thesis examines capital punishment practices in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida by utilizing case study method. Given that the three states have many demographic similarities, this thesis hypothesizes that states with stricter laws regarding representation of counsel, the roles judges and juries play, and the governor’s power will have lower rates of executions than states with more lenient laws about capital punishment. Examining what causes these differences in rates of capital punishment executions may reveal social and racial inequalities and further the research regarding capital punishment practices between states.
Comments
This presentation was accepted for the Scholarly and Creative Works Conference at Dominican University of California. The Conference was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic