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Report: ineffective assistance of counsel and lack of due process in death penalty cases

Article Abstract:

Indigent inmates facing capital punishment receive inadequate counsel and their due process rights are violated, an ABA Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section-sponsored discussion revealed. Court-appointed counsel is inadequately paid, lacks experience with capital cases, and does not have access to the resources public prosecutors do. Recent Supreme Court rulings have limited habeas writ and harmless error appeals, even though defendants cannot control the mistakes of their counsels or the courts. Capital punishment involves issues of race and ethics which society is reluctant to deal with.

Evaluation, Reports, Right to counsel, Due process of law, Habeas corpus

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International reaction to death penalty practices in the United States

Article Abstract:

The negative international reaction to the persistence of the death penalty in the United States is discussed. Amnesty International found in 1998 that the US has the highest death penalty population in the world. Many US extradition requests have been refused because of the persistence of this penalty.

Public opinion, Discrimination in criminal justice administration, Criminal justice discrimination

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The death penalty, but sparingly

Article Abstract:

Arguments in favor of capital punishment are given. The spiraling crime rates since Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court's 1972 ruling nullifying capital punishment as then used without certain procedural safeguards, has turned public opinion and state legislatures in favor of the sentence.

Usage, Violent crimes

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