Race, Gender and Capital Sentencing in Arizona

• In Event: Emergent Issues in the Study of Racial and Gender Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

While the number of death penalty cases in the United States has been declining for decades, death penalty still remains one of the sentencing options for the most heinous crimes in 31 states across the country. One arguments against the death penalty is that it has been administered with a racial bias against minorities, and it is therefore important to examine whether such claims are valid. Through analyzing the effects of race and gender of both defendants and victims on homicides in Arizona, this study attempts to explore whether there are any race and gender disparities in capital sentencing.

Authors

• Charlotte Hu, ASU

• Cassia Spohn, Arizona State University