Lab 1 Secondary Tables

Jessica Waldron

Ms. Mcaurthur SOWK300 MW

Due:09/19/2009
 Problem Definition Paper- Secondary Data Tables

Problem Identication: There was a large amount of executions during the 1930s to
the 1940s. During this time thousands of people women and men were executed under
civil authority.

Problem Description: Capital punishment has been practiced in virtually every society,
and thus can be considered to be a cultural universal or close to it, excluding those with
state religion proscriptions against it. But as time go by capital puishment has decreased
not only in harshness but in its number of occurences. In the data table #339, African
Americans do not suffer the bout of execution under civil authority, whites do. They
make up about 60% of the those executions. Also in the low percentage range is women
both black and white.

There is really nothing to be done that can help this problem because for the last
70-80 years civil executions have decreased to nearly nothing. In 1930-1939 there were
approimatey 4,958 executions while in 2007 there was only 42 deaths in total. From this
data it can be predicted or assumed that in the next 20 years there will be no executions
under civil authority. Although executions serve as a "scare for those who contemplate
doing dangerous, its unethical to kill someone no matte the circumstance.

Findings: Magnitude: The problem didn't prove to be that large of a problem. There
was only 4,958 deaths in the 30's. The bad part of these executions were that they
affected not only those that were executed but the family and friend and these people.

Scope: Although widespread civil executions seem to take place more in the
South than any other place in america. The more liberal states like New York and New
Jersey have not passed and executions in the last 3 decades. WWhile in the state of
Texas alone there has been 405 executions from 1977 to 2007. Thats 405 from the
1,099 that accured in the United States in that time period.

Changes: The problem changed a great deal over time. The number of deaths
greatly decreased
from each decade to decade.

Disparities: There are some differences with the number of people who
were actually executed each decade. White males seem to have the higest
percentage of exection for murder than any other racial goup and sexual orientation.
Women on a hold have far less exection than men both white and black. Blacks come in
with the second highest, while other races make up the remaining percentage of
executions.