Capital Punishment: A Reference Handbook - Hardcover

by Michael Kronenwetter (Author)

This revised edition of a perennial bestseller, with more than 50 percent new material, is a much-needed overview of a hotly debated topic.

Capital Punishment focuses on the use of the death penalty in the United States, its international status, and how foreign developments affect the country. It includes a history, a discussion of the controversies surrounding the death penalty, updated biographical sketches, and statistics. Key documents include the U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming capital punishment, a key dissent, Charles Dickens' 19th century view of the guillotine, and various papal and European Union decrees. It also includes a chronology, organizations, websites with further information, and an annotated bibliography.

In this updated survey, a thorough overview of capital punishment, author Michael Kronenwetter reveals interesting facts, for example, under Roman law, death was the penalty for publishing "insulting songs" and disturbing the city's peace.

Author Biography

Michael Kronenwetter is a professional writer and the author of the first edition of ABC-CLIO's Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century American Social Issues.