Death Penalty: Fair Solution or Moral Failure?

One of the most hotly debated topics in the United States is the death penalty. Some people think it's a fair and just punishment. They say that people who commit murder deserve the ultimate punishment - execution. Other people strongly disagree. They say the U.S. death penalty system is flawed, unfair, and unethical. Making sense of the issues involves looking at the facts, studying the statistics, examining the laws, and listening to views on both sides of the debate. It also means asking tough questions: • Why do some killers get the death penalty and not others? • Does the threat of the death penalty prevent people from committing murder? • Are African American murderers more likely to get a death sentence than white murderers? • Has a state ever executed an innocent person by mistake? To answer these questions, this book looks at U.S. Supreme Court cases and state laws. It provides the opinions and perspectives of religious leaders, judges, presidents, and professors on both sides of the issue. It also presents the perspectives of people closely involved in the death penalty system, such as inmates on death row, prosecuting attorneys, jurors in murder cases, and family members of murder victims. Supplemented with quotes, anecdotes, and discussions from the pages of USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, this book will broaden your understanding of all sides of the issue and help you form your own opinion, either for or against the death penalty.

One of the most hotly debated topics in the United States is the death penalty. Some people think it's a fair and just punishment. They say that people who commit murder deserve the ultimate punishment - execution. Other people strongly disagree. They say the U.S. death penalty system is flawed, unfair, and unethical. Making sense of the issues involves looking at the facts, studying the statistics, examining the laws, and listening to views on both sides of the debate. It also means asking tough questions: • Why do some killers get the death penalty and not others? • Does the threat of the death penalty prevent people from committing murder? • Are African American murderers more likely to get a death sentence than white murderers? • Has a state ever executed an innocent person by mistake? To answer these questions, this book looks at U.S. Supreme Court cases and state laws. It provides the opinions and perspectives of religious leaders, judges, presidents, and professors on both sides of the issue. It also presents the perspectives of people closely involved in the death penalty system, such as inmates on death row, prosecuting attorneys, jurors in murder cases, and family members of murder victims. Supplemented with quotes, anecdotes, and discussions from the pages of USA TODAY, The Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, this book will broaden your understanding of all sides of the issue and help you form your own opinion, either for or against the death penalty.

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9–Combining straight narrative and excerpts from USA Today articles, these volumes rely on the newspaper’s reputation in news reporting. Well designed with photos and colorful sidebars, the layout complements the information presented. However, Immigration is peppered with definitions in parentheses, interrupting the flow of the narrative. Immigration and Genetic Engineering are each marred by small factual errors and a confusing chart. Still, these are minor quibbles, and the volumes do a competent job of exploring the topic at hand. They will be picked up by students who recognize USA Today, and will provide the information they need.

JoAnn Bren Guernsey has published three young adult novels and coauthored a mystery series dealing with environmental issues. Her published nonfiction topics include teen pregnancy, rape, missing children, animal rights, and a Lerner Publishing Group biography of Hillary Clinton. She has also written a book on abortion for Lerner's Pro/Con series. Ms. Guernsey is an active member in the Society of Children's Book Writers.