Prosecution of a Death Penalty Case in Pennsylvania, With Analysis of United States Supreme Court Cases

• NCJ Number: 128659
• Author(s): E D Preate Jr
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 159 pages
• Corporate Author: Pennsylvania Office of The Attorney General
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: 6th printing, revised to July 1990

Annotation

Written by the Pennsylvania Attorney General, this manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to prosecute a case involving the death penalty in Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Using extensive examples from judicial decisions in capital cases, the text details each phase of case processing, starting with considerations involved in jury selection and guidelines on the voir dire process. Other sections focus on prejudicial pretrial publicity, bail in capital cases, notice of aggravating circumstances, defense investigation and use of psychiatrists, and court-ordered psychiatric evaluations. Other sections cover Pennsylvania law regarding incompetency, insanity, diminished capacity, and guilty but mentally ill; the need for the jury to find a specific intent to kill; specific aggravating factors; and each aspect of the sentencing phase.