Jeffery L. Johnson and Colleen F. Johnson

About the author: Philosophy professor Jeffery L. Johnson and economics professor Colleen F. Johnson both teach in the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Department at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon.

Socioeconomic discrimination is evident in the administration of the death penalty. Poor people and minorities are more likely than wealthy people to be convicted of crimes and to receive death sentences. Such disparities occur because poor defendants are generally represented by court-appointed attorneys who are often overworked, underpaid, inexperienced—or even incompetent. Prosecutors are also more likely to seek the death penalty in cases involving poor defendants because they realize that they are more likely to win such cases. In addition, the death penalty is more often pursued in...