Race, Homicide Severity, and Application of the Death Penalty: A Consideration of The Barnett Scale

• NCJ Number: 122646
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: (August 1989) Pages: 511-535
• Author(s): T J Keil; G F Vito
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Using the Barnett scale of homicide severity, this study analyzes the capital sentencing process in Kentucky.

Abstract

Barnett found in his analyses of Georgia cases that whites were disproportionately the victims of homicides that were considered as most serious by the scale. This conclusion was used to explain the racial disparity in capital sentencing. Using the scale to analyze Kentucky data, and controlling the level of seriousness of the murder, the authors found that prosecutors were more likely to seek the death penalty in cases in which blacks killed whites, and that juries were more likely to sentence to death blacks who killed whites. 3 notes, 8 tables, 42 references. (Author abstract modified)