Capital Punishment in Pennsylvania, 2000-2010: Seeking, Retracting, and Giving the Death Penalty

• In Event: Considering Context in Capital Punishment

Abstract

Prior research on racial disparity in the death penalty points to the likelihood of disparity by both race of the defendant and race of victim. In addition, questions surround the influence of the type of defense attorney on death penalty outcomes, as well as variation between courts in the likelihood of seeking and giving the death penalty. We present results from a study of capital murder case processing in Pennsylvania from 2000-2010, with a detailed information on offense, case, victim, and defendant characteristics. We present results from propensity score weighting and propensity weighted regression adjustment that examines differences in the likelihood of prosecutors seeking and retracting the death penalty, and then courts imposing the death penalty. We examine comparisons by race of offender and race of victim, defense attorney type, and differences between counties.

Authors

• Jeffery T. Ulmer, Penn State University

• John Kramer, Penn State University

• Gary Zajac, Pennsylvania State University