NCJ Number
238349
Date Published
2012
Length
174 pages
Annotation
This book examines racial disparities in capital case outcomes.
Abstract
This study examines the psychology of stereotypes and attitudes to explain how racial discrimination can operate undetected among death qualified jurors while producing sentencing discrepancies. Chapter 1 discusses racial discrepancies in capital case outcomes. Chapter 2 discusses the contours of prejudice and how capital jurors can discriminate based on race. Chapter 3 explores racial bias in capital juries through the stereotype activation and how it is liked to attitudes and the decision making process for individuals and groups. Chapter 4 discusses assessing the nature of biases among potential capital jurors. Chapter 5 analyzes the association between crime control beliefs and racially biased beliefs and the connection the two belief structures have with support for capital punishment. Chapter 6 provides conclusions and recommendations. Tables, figures, and bibliography