Study finds victim's race can skew death sentences in N.C.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Someone accused of killing a white person in North Carolina is nearly three times as likely to get the death penalty than someone accused of killing a black person, according to a study released Thursday by two researchers who looked at death sentences over a 28-year period.

The findings come as many in North Carolina are focusing on the death penalty and race. Death-row inmates have only a few more weeks to file challenges to their sentences under the Racial Justice Act approved by the legislature last year.

For the study, touted as one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of the modern administration of the death penalty in North Carolina, Michael L. Radelet, a sociology professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Glenn L. Pierce, a research scientist in the Northeastern University school of criminology and criminal justice in Boston, examined 15,281 homicides in the state between Jan. 1, 1980, and Dec. 31, 2007. Of those, 368 resulted in death sentences.

The researchers looked at many factors, such as the number of victims and whether other crimes such as burglaries and robberies were committed during the homicide. They also tried to consider similar homicide cases.

Their analysis of the data showed that the odds of receiving a death sentence in cases where the victim was white were 2.96 times as high as the odds in cases with black victims.

"It's just kind of baffling that, in this day and age, race matters," Radelet said.

Jay Ferguson, a defense lawyer in Durham, said the study found what others have shown - that it's not so much the race of the defendant, but the race of the victim, that determines the punishment.

"I think, over the years, the white-victim cases seem to get more attention in the criminal justice system," Ferguson said. "They seem to get more attention from the district attorneys and the juries. The legislature has made it clear that if we're going to have a death penalty in North Carolina, it's got to be colorblind. And these studies show it's not."

To read the complete article, visit www.newsobserver.com.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchy...l#ixzz0vGWL2WrQ

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I've read similar stories in at least a couple of other states

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Dr. Radelet on Ward Churchill:

“We leaned over backwards to give Professor Churchill the benefit of the doubt, to give him a break where a break was needed,” said Dr. Radelet, who noted that his scholarly work on people wrongly accused of crimes made him particularly sensitive to fairness in this case.

“It was just sad to see a person like this, beloved like this, with many talents,” Dr. Radelet said. “But he just cheated.”

[slim 1,530]

Aren't most murder trials decided by jury?

I realize sentencing is ultimately up to the judge but the jury is informed that a guilty finding could lead to the death penalty. I wonder if they also profiled the jury in these cases to figure out the "why" behind this trend.

[Heracles 417]

Ahh yes, this reminds me of the stock-standard AA are incarcerated more rants, as if they are specifically targeted because of their race. Ever occur to these geniuses that perhaps they actually commit more crime per capita. No need to bother posting the massive disparity in homicide rates per capita again.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Ahh yes, this reminds me of the stock-standard AA are incarcerated more rants, as if they are specifically targeted because of their race. Ever occur to these geniuses that perhaps they actually commit more crime per capita. No need to bother posting the massive disparity in homicide rates per capita again.

White guilt on parade...........AGAIN!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ahh yes, this reminds me of the stock-standard AA are incarcerated more rants, as if they are specifically targeted because of their race. Ever occur to these geniuses that perhaps they actually commit more crime per capita. No need to bother posting the massive disparity in homicide rates per capita again.

Actually it says they are more likely to be executed for equivalent crimes.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

White guilt on parade...........AGAIN!

Closed mind on display..........AGAIN!!!!

[Pooky 3,804]

Grumpy Old Gits ... at it AGAIN!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Grumpy Old Gits ... at it AGAIN!

Hes just lonely. No one to play with I guess.

[Pooky 3,804]

Hes just lonely. No one to play with I guess.

So, is MAD Walter Matthau to your Jack Lemmon?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

So, is MAD Walter Matthau to your Jack Lemmon?

?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Marc is more like Harvey Keitel's Bad Lieutenant

?

You've not seen that movie? Wow...

It's very famous.

[Pooky 3,804]

Marc is more like Harvey Keitel's Bad Lieutenant

And you're Victor Meldrew?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No, that's Paulandvanessa. Every little thing is the worst ever.