NCJ Number
132570
Journal
Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 27 Issue: 5 Dated: (September-October 1991) Pages: 387-415
Date Published
1991
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the controversial death penalty provisions for drug-related killings, the only Federal death penalty provisions likely to be used in any significant numbers.
Abstract
The author begins with a discussion of the statutory provisions including background consideration of the Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute in which the death penalty provisions are located. He then evaluates the constitutionality of the death penalty provisions for drug-related killings as measured against the case law reviewing State death penalties. Finally, the article concludes with a unique look at the way in which the Department of Justice addresses the use of this sentence. The article is timely as the first cases under this statute are just beginning to enter the court system, and the Department of Justice has approved the prosecution of only four cases. 157 footnotes (Publisher abstract)