Racial Disparity in Capital Punishment and its Impact on Family Members of Capital Defendants

Abstract

A review of the literature was conducted to explore the continuing racial disparity in capital punishment and its effects on family members of African American capital defendants. Statistical studies conducted on both the state and national level conclude that racial bias influences all stages of the death penalty process, with race of the victim being one of the most significant factors. This racial bias places an added burden on family members of African American capital defendants. While research has explored the impact of capital punishment on family members of capital defendants, the unique experiences of family members of African American defendants has not been addressed in the research literature.

Keywords:

• Capital punishment
• racial disparity
• family members of capital defendants
• death penalty