Name: Ally Fogarty Date: 5/26/15

Block: B1

Issue Analysis Sheet

Issue 1: Race of Death Penalty

Source 1: Death Penalty Information Center, 1015 18th St. NW, Suite 704 Washington, DC 20036
www.deathpenaltyinfo.org dpic@deathpenaltyinfo.org @DPInfoCtr. May 13, 2015.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf
Difficult Vocab:
Predicted Meaning:
Actual Definition:
1.
Deterrence
1.
Prevent From.
1.
is a strategy
2.
Execution
2.
To kill someone.
intended to dissuade an
3.
Race
3.
a group of people
adversary from taking an
that share a certain quality.
action not yet started, or to
prevent them from doing
something that another state
desires
2.
The carrying out or
putting into effect of a plan,
order, or course of action.
3.
Each of the major
divisions of humankind, having
distinct physical characteristics.

How is the issue described in the source?

That for death penalty states discriminate against race for execution.
According to the source, who is affected? How are they affected?
White: 782
Black: 488
Hispanic: 114
Other: 24
Over 75% of the murder victims in cases resulting in an execution were white, even though nationally
only 50% of murder victims generally are white. Jurors in Washington state are three times more likely
to recommend a death sentence for a black defendant than for a white defendant in a similar case. In
Louisiana, the odds of a death sentence were 97% higher for those whose victim was white than for
those whose victim was black. A study in California found that those who killed whites were over 3
times more likely to be sentenced to death than those who killed blacks and over 4 times more likely
than those who killed Latinos. North Carolina found that the odds of receiving a death sentence rose
by 3.5 times among those defendants whose victims were white.
31 people executed from white def./black victim, 293 people executed from black def./white victim.
According to the source, how have people reacted to the issue?
Did not have people's reactions.
As described in this source, how is the issue connected to your life?
This does not connect to my life other than it discriminates my race as a white and others as there
race.

Source 2 : American Civil Liberties Union, Race and the Death Penalty. 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor,
New York NY 10004 or call 212-549-2500.https://www.aclu.org/race-and-death-penalty
Difficult Vocab:
4.

Disproportionate
5.
Moratorium
6.
Jurisdictions

Predicted Meaning:
4.
Comparing
5.
To ban something
6.
Authority/rule/power

Actual Definition:
4.
Too large or too
small in comparison with
something else.
5.
A temporary
prohibition of an activity.
6.
The official power
to make legal decisions and
judgments.

How is the issue described in the source?

That the color of a defendants and victims skin plays an unacceptable role in deciding who receives
the death penalty in America.
According to the source, who is affected? How are they affected?
white victims account for about of murder victims. As of October 12, 2002 twelve people have been
executed where the defendant was white and the victim was black compared with 178 black
defendants executed for murders with white victims. A study concluded by the University of Maryland
that defendants are much more likely to be sentenced to death if they have killed a white person.
According to the source, how have people reacted to the issue?
Did not have people's reactions.
As described in this source, how is the issue connected to your life?
This does not connect to my life other than it discriminates my race as a white and others as there
race.

Issue 2:
Source 1 (Author, Website, Date Created, url):
Difficult Vocab:
7.
8.
9.

Predicted Meaning:
7.
8.
9.

Actual Definition:
7.
8.
9.

How is the issue described in the source?

According to the source, who is affected? How are they affected?
According to the source, how have people reacted to the issue?
As described in this source, how is the issue connected to your life?

Source 2 (Author, Website, Date Created, url):

Difficult Vocab:
10.
11.
12.

Predicted Meaning:
10.
11.
12.

How is the issue described in the source?

According to the source, who is affected? How are they affected?
According to the source, how have people reacted to the issue?
As described in this source, how is the issue connected to your life?

Actual Definition:
10.
11.
12.