The Death Penalty Debate

Summary

In this video, two legal experts debate the merits of the death penalty. Robert Blacker, a criminal law professor, argues for its necessity, citing justice and retribution as key reasons, while acknowledging the potential for executing innocent individuals. Steve Greenwald, a lawyer with death penalty experience, advocates for its abolition, citing racial and economic disparities, the lack of deterrence, and the high risk of error. Both discuss the impact of the death penalty on the broader criminal justice system.

Takeaways

• 📚 Robert Blacker is a criminal law professor and constitutional history teacher at New York Law School.
• 🔒 He has spent thousands of hours in maximum-security prisons and on death rows, interviewing convicted killers.
• ⚖️ Blacker supports the death penalty as a form of retributive justice, believing some people deserve to die for their crimes.
• 🔎 He identifies two groups as the 'worst of the worst': cold, callous killers and sadistic serial killers who derive pleasure from their crimes.
• 🤔 Blacker acknowledges the possibility of mistakenly executing innocent people but argues the ratio of error is small compared to the need for justice.
• 🏛️ He suggests that racial disparities in the death penalty can be reduced by redefining the criteria for the worst crimes.
• 👨‍⚖️ Steve Greenwald is a New York lawyer who has worked on death penalty cases for over 20 years.
• ❌ Greenwald opposes the death penalty and advocates for its abolition in the United States.
• 🌍 He argues that the death penalty contributes to the harshness of the U.S. criminal justice system compared to other democratic countries.
• 🚫 Greenwald states that studies show the death penalty is not a deterrent and shares personal experiences that support this view.
• 🔍 He points out the unequal application of the death penalty along racial and economic lines and the high risk of errors leading to the execution of innocent individuals.

Q & A

Who is Robert Blacker and what is his stance on the death penalty?

Robert Blacker is a criminal law professor and constitutional history teacher at New York Law School. He supports the death penalty, believing that some people deserve to die and that society has an obligation to execute them.

What is the main reason Robert Blacker gives for supporting the death penalty?

Robert Blacker supports the death penalty as a form of retribution, arguing that justice is served by executing those who have committed heinous crimes.

What are the two groups of criminals that Robert Blacker considers 'the worst of the worst'?

The two groups Robert Blacker identifies as 'the worst of the worst' are the cold, callous, and wanton killers who feel nothing, and the sadistic serial killers who derive thrill and exhilaration from the suffering of their victims.

What are the two main arguments against the death penalty mentioned in the script?

The two main arguments against the death penalty mentioned are the possibility of mistakenly executing innocent people and the racial bias in its application.

How does Robert Blacker address the concern of potentially executing innocent people?

Robert Blacker acknowledges the horrifying possibility of executing innocent people but argues that the ratio of such errors is small compared to the number of cases where justice is served, suggesting that the death penalty is still worth it despite the risk.

What is Steve Greenwald's profession and his view on the death penalty?

Steve Greenwald is a lawyer in New York with experience in death penalty cases. He is firmly opposed to the death penalty and believes it should be abolished in the United States.

According to Steve Greenwald, how does the death penalty influence the overall criminal justice system in the United States?

Steve Greenwald suggests that the death penalty sets a precedent or tone for the rest of the criminal justice system, making it one of the harshest among democratic countries.

What are some reasons Steve Greenwald provides for the abolition of the death penalty?

Steve Greenwald cites reasons such as the United States having one of the harshest criminal justice systems, the lack of the death penalty as a deterrent, racial and economic disparities in its application, and the high likelihood of errors leading to the execution of innocent individuals.

How does the script suggest addressing the racial disparity in the application of the death penalty?

The script suggests that redefining what crimes constitute the 'worst of the worst' and implementing other changes could reduce the apparent racial disparity without eliminating the death penalty itself.

What is the Innocence Project mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to the death penalty?

The Innocence Project is an organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and other means. The script mentions that since its establishment, around 150 individuals have been exonerated from death sentences due to errors made during trials or investigations.