The death penalty is a contentious issue in both sociology and in U.S. society generally. The website of the [http://ww

The death penalty is a contentious issue in both sociology and in U.S. society generally. The website of the [http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org] is a useful source of information on this subject. Click on the link, the website will open in a new window.

Once you are in the website place the cursor over the "Facts and Research" marker (this is the drop down menu), then click on FactSheet from the drop-down menu to locate the following information – you can extrapolate your findings from the factsheet:

   1. How many people have been executed so far this year?

   2. What percentage of current death row inmates are black?

   3. What is the current population of death row inmates in California?

  4. How much more does it cost to execute a prisoner rather than incarcerate him/her for life? 

  5. How much money would California save if the Governor commuted the sentences of those remaining on death row?  

  6. Do a majority of law enforcement officers think the death penalty is an effective law enforcement tool?

Review your findings and then discuss the following:

For your discussion post: Discuss what surprised you the most about the death penalty and something new that you learned. How much has the media affected your perception of the death penalty, and how accurate was/is your perception now that you’ve gone over the facts and figures. Do NOT include the answers to the questions... and remember - Your word count does not include the answers to the exercise questions, only your response to them – as the instructions state.