American Civil Liberties Union

In the following viewpoint, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argues that the death penalty is a barbaric practice that does not deter crime. In addition, the organization asserts that the death penalty is not administered fairly; studies have found that the defendant’s race, geographic location, and economic status greatly influence whether or not capital punishment is imposed. Furthermore, most civilized societies have given up requiring an eye-foran-eye style of retribution. Therefore, the ACLU concludes, the death penalty should be abolished in the United States.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the author, how many people have been executed by the state since the death penalty was reinstated?
2. How many hours does a lawyer spend defending a death-penalty case, as cited by the ACLU?
3. What is the most important factor...