In those states that do practice capital punishment, just because someone is convicted of first-degree murder does not mean that person will be sentenced to death

Identify who makes the decision whether someone receives a sentence of death and discuss how this decision is made.


The decision as to whether a first-degree murderer will be sentenced to death is usually made by a jury in a post-trial hearing. This is known as bifurcation. The jury will be asked to consider whether various aggravating circumstances were in place, which would call for execution. Aggravating factors are those factors that add to the seriousness or enormity of an offense. The jury will also consider whether mitigating circumstances existed. Mitigating circumstances serve to extenuate or reduce the defendant's degree of moral culpability. To sentence a first-degree murderer to death, it is usually required that jurors find (1) at least one aggravating factor and (2) no mitigating circumstances.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

Match the term in Column 1 to the description that best defines it in Column 2

1. Paternalism a. As women become more masculinized, they will participate in increased levels of crime 2. Economic marginalization b. The protection of women based on male-dominated social system blamed for increase in detention of girls 3. Structured action c. Absence of meaningful job opportunities, underemployment, and low wages that lead women to commit crime 4. Androgenous d. Class-based social order of capitalism creates powerless roles that lead women to "street" crimes 5. Liberation perspective e. Tendency to be male-centered on issues, particularly criminological theory 6. Egalitarianism f. Family structure that increases the likelihood that boys & girls will engage in delinquency at similar rates

Criminal Justice

Women who were abused as children are at greater risk to be abused again as adults than those who avoided childhood victimization

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Criminal Justice

Answer the following statements true (T) or false (F)

1) Terrorists see the United States as a means to rally support and hatred. 2) All terrorist groups in the United States are foreign or Middle Eastern groups. 3) Al-Shabaab, located in Somalia, is loosely affiliated with ISIS. 4) After the killing of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda dissolved and no longer remains a significant force. 5) The Ku Klux Klan is an example of an animal rights terrorist group.

Criminal Justice

Discuss in detail the similarities and differences between the consensus theory and the conflict theory

What will be an ideal response?

Criminal Justice