Death by discrimination: Racial bias in sentencing of defendants

For all you DP supporters, how do you defend a system that's inherently biased? Or, do these people "just need killing"?


* Although African Americans make up 12% of the population, they account for 42% of current death row inmates. (1)

* Jurisdictions with the highest percentages of minorities on death row (2):

* U.S. Military (86%)

* Colorado (100%)

* Louisiana (72%)

* Pennsylvania (70%)

* In North Carolina, the odds of receiving a death sentence are 3.5 times higher among defendants whose victims were white. (3)

* The odds of receiving a death sentence in Philadelphia are 38% higher in cases in which the defendant is black. (4)
RACIAL BIAS IN THE SENTENCING OF DEFENDANTS:


* At least one in five of the African Americans executed since 1977 had been convicted by all-white juries. (7)

* Of all of the eligible death penalty cases involving a white defendant, 13% receive the death penalty. Of all the eligible death penalty cases involving a black defendant, 18% receive the death penalty. (4)

* There are only 22 (1%) black and 22 (1%) latino/a district attorneys in states with death penalty statutes, as compared to 1794 (98%) white DA’s in these same states. (4)

* In a Philadelphia study, the fact that a defendant was black was considered to be the third strongest aggravating factor when determining a death sentence. (4)
RACIAL BIAS IN THE EXECUTION OF DEATH ROW INMATES:


* People of color comprise 43% of total executions since 1976, while comprising only around 25% of the population. (5)

* Since 1977, blacks and whites have been the victims of murders in almost equal numbers, yet 80% of the people executed in that period were convicted of murders involving white victims. (6)

* Of the defendants put to death in this country since 1976, 53 per cent were whites convicted of killing whites and 10 per cent were blacks convicted of killing blacks.(7)

* Since 1977 22 per cent of all executions were for the murder of a white person. In the same period, 1.4 per cent of executions were for the murder of blacks (7)
RACE IS A DECISIVE FACTOR IN JUVENILE DEATH SENTENCES


* More than 6 out of every 10 persons sentenced to death for childhood offenses since 1976 have been either African American or Latino.

* Almost 2 out of 3 juvenile offenders currently on death row are persons of color.

* Of the 22 juvenile offenders executed since 1976, almost 2 out of 3 were either African American or Latino.

http://www.ncadp.org/fact_sheet2.html

It might tell us a lot.

* At least one in five of the African Americans executed since 1977 had been convicted by all-white juries. (7)

So much for "jury of your peers."

I wonder how many whites were tried by all black juries. Any stats?

I imagine the answer is none.

and I don't have time to hunt for it right now. Sorry. But, my first thought is that they never seat all-black juries, though I can't substantiate that right now.

Funny how none of the pro death penalty posters have jumped on this threat with the same vigor they are posting on others. I guess the facts speak for themselves and they can't defend it in light of these statistics.

of the people on death row in Colorado are minorites. I guess none of the white people in that state ever committed heinous crimes.

I've opposed the death penalty for as long as I can remember, and it's ALWAYS been applied disproportionately to minorities . .. that's one of the reasons (of many) that I've been so vehemently in favor of its abolition . . .

I just can't understand how people can still claim it's "justice" in light of this evidence.

Just the statistics are enough to prove that "justice" is not administered fairly in this country. It never has been. I'm opposed to the death penalty anyway, but this is just one more reason to abolish it. Sentencing will not be fair until all racism in our society is gone, and we're a long way from that right now. I think that economic status is another factor. Minorities are more likely to be poor, and not able to afford good lawyers.

Money isn't the only thing the Republicans and right wingers are squandering today, they are also wasting our most valuable resources, the lives of our fellow citizens, by allowing poverty to become so deeply entrenched among minorities . If we were willing to spend the money on decent housing, job training, and medical care that we spend building and staffing prisons, our country would be far better for it.

But, at one time, I did think it was acceptable. It was not until I started doing more research that I hardened my position against it. That's why I keep trying here. If I was swayed by facts I was not aware of, perhaps it will open other eyes as well. I realize some will never change, but if there were more of us, maybe we could abolish the DP once and for all.

Not happy about it, but just accepted it as law. You, however, decided to learn more about the DP, the application of it, and educated yourself. That's something I admire, but sadly, something far too people do. Their acceptance is just something that they don't really give a lot of thought to, it's easier to accept the status quo.

I don't consider it flip-flopping on an issue. You get more information. Positions change or become more entrenched -- both situations are good provided they are grounded in the reality of the situation. I think it is much worse to remain stubbornly with a position, regardless of new information or shifting scenarios. It kind of reminds me of Bush.