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Blacks who kill whites are most likely to be executed

Blacks convicted of killing whites are not only more likely than other killers to receive a death sentence – they are also more likely to actually be executed, a new study suggests.

But the findings showed that African Americans on death row for killing nonwhites are less likely to be executed than other condemned prisoners.

“Examining who survives on death row is important because less than 10 percent of those given the death sentence ever get executed,” said David Jacobs, co-author of the study and professor of sociology at Ohio State University.

“The disparity in execution rates based on the race of victims suggests our justice system places greater value on white lives, even after sentences are handed down.”

This apparently is the first study to examine whether the race of murder victims affects the probability that a convicted killer gets the ultimate punishment, Jacobs said.

He conducted the study with Zhenchao Qian, professor of sociology at Ohio State, Jason Carmichael of McGill University and Stephanie Kent of Cleveland State University. Their results appear in the August 2007 issue of the American Sociological Review.

The study examined outcomes of 1,560 people sentenced to death in 16 states from 1973 to 2002. These 16 states were chosen because they had the complete data that the researchers needed for the study.

Other research has shown that the great majority of those sentenced to death have their sentences overturned in appeal, Jacobs said. But little is known about the factors that lead some condemned prisons to be executed.

There is more than a two-fold greater risk that an African American who killed a white person will be executed than there is for a white person who killed a non-white victim.

“The fact that blacks who kill non-whites actually are less likely to be executed than blacks who kill whites shows there is a strong racial bias here,” Jacobs said. “Blacks are most likely to pay the ultimate price when their victims are white.”

Hispanics who killed whites were also more likely to be executed than were whites who killed non-whites, the study showed. But the risk of execution were not as strong for Hispanics who killed whites as they were for blacks who killed whites.

The study also reinforced findings by Jacobs in previous studies. He found that the likelihood of a legal death penalty was greater in states with higher proportions of black residents, an ideologically more conservative population, and in states where there was greater support for Republican candidates.

In the most recent study, Jacobs finds that execution probabilities increase in states along with the population of African Americans, up to a point. But when the population of blacks reaches about 16 percent of the population, executions start to decrease. Probably at that point, African Americans have enough votes and political influence within a state to reduce the number of executions, Jacobs said.

Various other political and state-level factors also played a role in the use of the death penalty in the states studied. States with more conservative citizens were more likely to execute, as were states that had higher percentages of voters who supported Republican presidential candidates.

“Republican presidential candidates often run on law and order platforms, so it is not surprising that the success of these candidates goes along with support for the harshest punishment,” he said.

“Overall, we found that our justice system is not colorblind, even after offenders are put on death row,” Jacobs said. “White lives are still valued more than black ones when it comes to deciding who gets executed and who does not.”

The study was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

http://researchnews.osu.edu

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August 1, 2007

Comments

It is slave-owner mentality, to only profit.

October 19, 2007 by Anonymous, 2 years 2 weeks ago
Comment id: 25571

Watching, Meet the Press, Bill Cosby made a comment stating "If you don't live for something, we will end up dying from anything." I am an African American. I feel as though my husband is one of the hardest working men in American. He is an iron worker. He does not miss a day of work. Through schooling, he has started providing our family with a six figure income. A blessing that affords me the opportunity to be a work at home mom and to pursue a higher education for myself. Being at home with our smaller children, allows me to read more and watch more news. Our country is facing civil unrest at this moment. My husband and I debate. He is more the Malcolm X figure. He believes justice does not come about without revolt. I am more the Martin Luther King Jr. type. I have a vision so clearly, and we need to petition our government.

This is discrimination that affects every American. To prove discrimination, first, you must prove either the statement or the action. Second, you must prove how it affects you. This statement was pointed directly to black people and it violates my Constitutional rights. Not only do we have the right to vote. It cannot be used against us. Your vote is you political voice. That is a violation of the 1st Amendment. It is not racism. It is discrimination. These are the rights our country was founded upon. Any individuals in government that violates these rights are unfit to hold their position. We must have people in office with common decency. People who will promote the general welfare of this country. That is Democracy. I, my husband, and our sons were born on American soil. These rights may not have been written for us, but they apply to us. I cannot allow any individual in government the power to violate our rights. George Bush is quoted in saying "Blacks didn't come out for me like the Hispanics did, so they're not gonna see much help from me." This is found is his authorized biography/ autobiography, DEAD CERTAIN, on page 46. Second, the evidence of how that statement today, affects every American. Look on the flip side of that statement, what do you get when you support President Bush. Alphonso Jackson, who is a black man, received government funds for contracts to help Katrina victims. A supporter of Bush, who is now under investigation. A contractor states Jackson told him, paraphrasing, why would you get this contract you didn't vote for Bush? Next, Roland E. Arnall, a major contributor to the Bush campaign. He is now the US Ambassador to the Netherlands nominated by George Bush. Ameriquest Mortgage, Arnall being CEO of, has a Multistate Settlement. $295 million Settlement Fund has been established to provide restitution payments to certain Ameriquest borrowers identified by the States; Ameriquest and other affiliated companies had engaged in various unlawful mortgage lending practices. Sub-prime lending is our economic crunch right now.

How many crony companies will benefit in his administration? How many of these companies are going to be investigated and found to be crooked? How many government funds are misappropriated to these crony companies, that do not do their job. How much money will be pocketed off of America's back. Better yet, how do I address my eleven year old son, who gets an assignment from school to watch the news with your parents and he has questions on why? "Why do oil companies get to make all this money when you can grow and regrow corn? Why can't a hospital help those who are sick? Why are we really at war? Mama, why can't we sell other countries what we have in our country that they need or want. And we buy something from that country or we build something in that country and everyone can make money." All from an eleven year old. I am not saying one person can do all these things, but with people with integrity these things will happen. The innocence of our children; they know race does not matter. They will play all day. They only ones they dislike are those that have done them wrong. It is not until they are introduced to discrimination does race play a factor. Our children need role models, and a certain standard in life. This will also help cause true diplomacy to work. I have heard George Bush reference God calling him to become President. I feel as though that is true. It allows us set a precedent in the highest, elected office of our government that this type of individual will not be tolerated. It is slave-owner mentality to only profit. AMERICA, WE ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING FOR THE PRESIDENT. HE WORKS FOR YOU, AND HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED!!!!!!!!!

In every stage of a Oppression Black America has Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A President, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a discriminator, is unfit to PRESIDE over a FREE nation.

"We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, "promote the general welfare", and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

Let's hold these individuals accountable. If not, our children will pay the price. In every race I've been fortunate enough to meet; all want better for their children. Let's demand better and do better for them. We can build our country and others with billions of dollars and still profit. I have ideas that will not only help global warming, it will help international relations by two countries benefiting. Ideas that can end the Iraqi war in a year, and America will profit as well as Iraqi citizens. The only military you need is to insure progress. Instead of building of fence to keep Mexicans out, create job opportunities in their country. While America profits and so can Mexico. I am talking about real technology that has already been developed. It just takes real people to spend the money on it. This is utilizing international business. Not taking people's jobs because labor is cheaper, because a person who does not work most likely won't buy house. Nor does a person who is rich need a mortgage. This is not a game. There are real people dying. Last time I heard, the military equipment, billions are being spent on are poorly constructed. Are these funds going to crony companies that cut corners to profit? Raising the standards of America, starting with myself.

To Black America, America was built from your free labor. Your are the epitome of the American dream. To come from nothing and through oppression, we still make our way. It is time to stop making our way and take our way. Big business gets paid more to incarcerate you than to educate you. These are not only your Consititutional Rights being violated, but your GOD GIVEN RIGHTS. Your are entitled to GOD's nature. The Black Panther Party formed, when Black America said, wait I will no longer live under these conditions. What is a life to live. When you can't truly live it. We were born on American soil. So we are entitled to the Constitutional Rights. The Black Panther Party said, I have the right to bear arms. No one is going to come into my home, business and/or church and violate me or my family. Black People we can march on every injustice, but if we don't address these individuals in government, it will never make the difference that we are looking for. I don't need reparations, just justice in 2007. Demand your rights black people. When will we ever again in our lifetime have such an opportunity? When will we ever find anyone dumb enough to say it? If we all stood up for our rights, on my word as a God-fearing individual this man will be removed from office. An example will be set for the next President. I AM TALKING ABOUT A VISION LIKE GOD TELLING NOAH TO BUILD AN ARK. THERE HAS BEEN TSUNAMIS OR HURRICANES BEFORE WE KNEW WHAT TO CALL 'EM. God says believe and do not be afraid and he'll will divide an inheritance to whom he promised your forefathers. He will provide all your needs. Here in America, we have agriculture, labor, the technology to divert solar energy into power, and most importantly the right to think freely. I ain't never ran, and I won't pick today to start running. ARE YOU TRUE ENOUGH? This is all factual information. If I am wrong I implore the President and America to prove me wrong. "It is better to be judged by 12 then to be hated on by six."

Your Fellow American, Andrea

All the facts?

September 20, 2007 by Anonymous, 2 years 6 weeks ago
Comment id: 25041

Are all things equal in this except color? Are the rate of blacks killing whites higher thean whites killing blacks? and if so coule tha ratio match the disportionate number in death penalty cases. Kinda of like how soceity punishes male sex offeneders at a higher level than a female commiting the same crime becasue male sex offenders are more likely to commit a sex offense?

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