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Is The Death Penalty Fairly Applied?
Is The Death Penalty Fairly Applied?
Arbitrariness regarding the death penalty would mean that it is applied randomly, irregularly, or disproportionately among those who commit murder.
IF only the worst persons were executed for the worst crimes; IF death row prosecutions were administered fairly to all in all places.
Less than 2% of murders in MO result in the death penalty, but are these the most incorrigible offenders who have committed the most heinousness of murders? the county in which the murder happened; and/or the race, class, or gender of the offender and/or the victim; having an inferior defense lawyer. who gets charged with capital murder who stands trial who gets a plea bargain
THIS IS ARBITRARY!
The United States Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 with the intent that it would no longer be capricious or arbitrary. Yet recently, 40 years later, when in 2012 the American Bar Association concluded a two year study of how the death penalty is being administered in MO, they reported that the flaws continue.