• The idea that the death penalty mostly affects minorities are wrong because according to studies, since 1976 the majority of people executed because of the death penalty were white, even though minorities committed majority of murders.(1)

• In 2000, 49 of the 85 people put on death row that year were white.(1)

• A study of 900 death penalty cases show that are no signs of racial bias. The reason it seems that minorites are targets because the severity of the crimes they committ carry the death sentence punishment.(2)

• Race is not a factor in determining who get the death penalty because an article in the News and Observer on 5/31/2001 states that "Juries consider aggravating factors, such as multiple killings."(3)

• Unfornately for minorities, when they committ murders they also committ other crimes along with the murders like rape, assault, robbery etc. Those factors make them more prone to recieving the death penalty.(3)

Links:
1. Myths
2. Racial Bias?
3. "Death Sentences don't equal bias" (News and Observer, 5/31/2001)
 
 

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