Read more
Legal decisions continue to mystify: why was this person sentenced to 20 years in prison, but that person to just 10 years for the same crime? Why did one person sue for civil damages, but another let the matter drop? Legal rules are supposed to answer these questions, but their answers are radically incomplete. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a theory that predicted and explained legal decisions?
Drawing on Donald Black's theoretical ideas, Geometrical Justice: The Death Penalty in America addresses these issues, focusing specifi cally on who is sentenced to death and executed in the United States. The book explains why some murders are more serious than others and how the social characteristics of defendants, victims, and jurors aff ect case outcomes. Building on the most rigorous data in the field, the authors reveal wide discrepancies in capital punishment - why one person lives, but another person dies.
Geometrical Justice will be of interest to those engaged in criminal justice, criminology, and socio- legal studies, as well as students taking courses on sentencing, corrections, and capital punishment.
List of contents
Prologue Chapter 1: The Geometrical Theory of Law Chapter 2: Social Space Chapter 3: Social Time Chapter 4: Space and Time: Third Parties Chapter 5: The Death Penalty and Beyond
About the author
As a ten-year-old boy inspired by fellow Ohioan, Neil Armstrong, when he landed on the moon in 1969, Scott dreamed of someday becoming part of something larger than himself. Ten years later, through a series of serendipitous life events, Scott Phillips embarked on a career with NASA's groundbreaking Space Shuttle Program. He was the last team member to exit the first External Tank prior to its maiden flight on April 12, 1981, and saved the Remove Before Flight ribbon as a memento. What followed was an extraordinary thirty-three-year adventure, encompassing the entire span of the program-from the depths of tragedy to the exclusive never-before-seen photos and first-hand stories. "Remove Before Flight" takes the reader on a historical and personal journey that will enlighten and entertain.
Inspired by his work at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Scott began creating one-of-a-kind hardwood models to reflect and honor the excellence and legacy of the Shuttle Program. He is an artist, space historian and archivist, songwriter, and motivational speaker. He lives in Harvest, Alabama, with his wife, Dianne, and sons, Christian and Tyler.
Summary
Geometrical Justice enlists the pathbreaking geometrical theory of law developed by sociologist Donald Black. Drawing on large datasets, this book considers how characteristics such as race, class, social integration, moral reputation, and organizational status affect legal decision making.
