THE DEATH PENALTY (CAPITAL PUNISHMENT) The location and call number of each publication is given in parentheses at the end of its bibliographic entry. All publications in this guide may be found on the 4th level (the main floor) unless otherwise noted. STEP ONE--Look at these articles to get background information: Allen, Francis A. "Capital Punishment." In vol. 2 of International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, pp. 290-294. Edited by David Sills. New York: Macmillan and Free Press, 1968. (Ref. H640.A2I5 v.2) Gives history and background, including ancient legal codes, penal practices in premodern Europe, and the abolition movement. Discusses arguments about the effectiveness of capital punishment. Biskupic, Joan. "Death Row Issue Divides Hill, Halts Crime Bill Progress: Democrats and Republicans Disagree on How Many Chances Prisoners Should Have to Fight Their Executions." Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report 50 (Feb. 22, 1992): 410-11+. (Govt. Info. Ref. Alcove JK1.C15--West Wall) Proposals to authorize the death penalty for more than 50 federal crimes; use of habeas corpus petitions in capital cases. Buckley, William F., Jr. "The War Against Capital Punishment." National Review 42 (June 25, 1990): 62(2). (Per. AP2.N3545--6th level) Why there is more support for capital punishment and what is wrong with racial guidelines. There are over 2,100 murders for every execution. Davis, Michael. "The Death Penalty, Civilization, and Inhumaneness." Social Theory and Practice 16 (Summer 1990): 245-59. Reply by Jeffrey Reiman, pp. 261-272. (Per. H1.S63--6th level) The Death Penalty. Edited by Bonnie Szumski, Lynn Hall, and Susan Bursell. Opposing Viewpoints Series, vol. 27. St. Paul, Minn.: Greenhaven Press, 1986. (Ref. H33.O666 v.27) Contains 26 views about the death penalty, including whether it is immoral, whether it will deter murder, and whether it should be used for political crimes, such as treason. Also contains lists of periodical articles and books for further information. Dolinko, David. "Foreword: How to Criticize the Death Penalty." The Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology 77 (Fall 1986): 546-601. (Per. K10.O8593--6th level) Discusses the arbitrariness, discrimination, and mistake (irrevocability) arguments. Gallup, Alec, and Frank Newport. "Death Penalty Support Remains Strong, But Most Feel Unfairly Applied." Gallup Poll Monthly, June 1991, pp. 40-5. (Ref. HM261.A1G34) June 1991 telephone survey compared with earlier data. Gest, Ted. "Black-and-White Issue?: The Supreme Court Wrestles with the Death Penalty and Race." U.S. News and World Report 101 (Oct. 20, 1986): 24-25. (Per. JK1.U65--6th level) Discusses findings that people who murder white people are much more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murder black people. Gordon, Diana R. "Executioners' Songs." Nation 251 (Oct. 8, 1990): 373(4). (Per. AP2.N2--6th level) Congressional capital crime control legislation and judicial whittling away of the habeus corpus process, in order to speed up executions. "Issue 10. Is Capital Punishment Justified?" In Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Political Issues, 3rd ed., edited by George McKenna and Stanley Feingold, pp. 164-181. Guilford, CT: Dushkin Pub. Group, 1983. (JK271.T37 1989--5th level) "Issue 14. Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?" In Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Legal Issues, 3rd ed., edited by M. Ethan Katsh, pp. 285-301. Guilford, CT: Dushkin Pub. Group, 1989. (KF384.A2T33 1989--5th level) Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service (CRS). Death Penalty (Capital Punishment) InfoPack. Washington, D.C.: the Service, 1987. (Kept in Govt. Info. Dept. Office--present your Vanderbilt I.D. card) Includes bibliographies, summaries of issues, policy options, arguments for and against, and other basic issues. Nathanson, Stephen "Does It Matter If the Death Penalty Is Arbitrarily Administered?" Philosophy & Public Affairs 14 (Spring 1985): 149-76. Replies: 14 (Spring 1985): 115-48, and 14 (Spring 1985): 165- 76. (Per. H1.P54--6th level) Nice, David C. "The States and the Death Penalty." Western Political Quarterly 45 (Dec. 1992): 1037- 482. (Per. JA1.W4--6th level) "1990 Omnibus Crime Bill: Pros and Cons." Congressional Digest 69 (Nov. 1990): 258-288. (Kept in Govt. Info. Dept. Office--present your Vanderbilt I.D. card) Includes: "Existing Federal Death Penalty Laws," pp. 261, 288, and "Should the Racial Justice Act of 1990 Be Approved?: Pro and Con," pp. 276-287, which includes excerpts from the Senate floor debate from May 24, 1990. Rosenbaum, Robert A. "Capital Punishment". In his Public Issues Handbook: A Guide for the Concerned Citizen, pp. 31-41. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1983. (Ref. HC106.8.R37 1983) Contains a survey of the history of the death penalty in America, and information about the debate over capital punishment. Thompson, Roger. "Emptying Death Row: More U.S. Executions". Editorial Research Reports, vol. 1 of 1985 (Jan. 18, 1985): 41-60. (Per. H35.E35 1985 v.1--6th level) Contains a report about the resurgence of executions; Constitutional questions about cruel and unusual punishment; fairness of jury selection and state proportionality review; and moral pragmatic issues. Wilkes, John. "Murder in Mind." Psychology Today 21 (June 1987): 27-32. (Microfilm 1612--6th level) International statistics do not support proposition that death penalty deters crime. Worsnop, Richard L. "Death Penalty Debate Centers on Retribution." Editorial Research Reports, vol. 1 of 1990 (July 13, 1990): 397-411. (Ready Ref. H35.E35 1990 v.1--Index Stand 1) Discusses argument that deterence doesn't matter; retribution justifies the death penalty. Also covers high public support, role as a political issue, Supreme Court rulings that loosen restraints on death penalty, and whether life imprisonment without parole is an appropriate alternative. Bibliography, p. 411. STEP TWO--Find books on your topic by looking on Acorn: Acorn lists almost all books, periodicals, and most other library materials for all of the libraries at Vanderbilt University. Almost all U.S. government publications (also known as documents) issued after 1976 are listed on Acorn. At the Acorn Plus terminals, type choose acorn and press [ENTER] to use Acorn. You can search Acorn by author, title, keyword, or subject. Subjects (s=) that you may find useful include: s=capital punishment A good keyword search: k=death penalty or capital punishment The subject headings that have been used to describe a book are listed on the Acorn screen, above the location and call number. Look up those subject headings on Acorn to find other books on those topics. After finding the call numbers for the books you want, check the location chart by the main elevators to find out the level on which those books are shelved. Look at other books shelved near the books listed on Acorn, since they will be about similar subjects. STEP THREE--Find additional articles on your topic by looking at indexes: Newspaper Abstracts, 1987-. (Reference Room, Compact Disc Stations) Indexes national and international political and economic issues and includes short abstracts of each article. Covers: The Atlanta Constitution (Microfilm 1835--6th level) The Boston Globe (Microfilm 2359--6th level; FILM FOR 1989-1992 ONLY) The Chicago Tribune (Microfilm 2364--6th level; FILM FOR 1989-1992 ONLY) The Christian Science Monitor (Microfilm 1484--6th level) The Los Angeles Times (Microfilm 2220--6th level) The New York Times (Microfilm 455--6th level) The Wall Street Journal (Microfilm 1413--6th level) The Washington Post (Microfilm 1957--6th level). Paper versions of these indexes and of The Times [London] (Microfilm 796--6th level) are located on the North Wall of the Reference Room with call numbers beginning with Ref. AS21. In the paper versions, articles are arranged chronologically under each subject. The issues themselves are on microfilm in the Microform/Media Center on the 6th level. PAIS on Silver Platter [compact disc], 1976-. (Reference Room, Compact Disc Stations) Compact disc version for 1976 to date of Public Affairs Information Service Bulletin, 1916-. Indexes books, pamphlets, and government publications, in addition to selected articles in 1,400 periodicals. Covers current events and issues, including economic and social conditions, government and politics, and international relations. You do not have to type k= before typing your terms; use the * (asterisk) to truncate substitute for word endings). Look here for widest variety of sources. Periodical Abstracts--Research II, 1986-, and Social Sciences Index/Fulltext, 1989-. (Reference Room, Proquest Compact Disc Stations) Periodical Abstracts--Research II bstracts and indexes articles from more than 1200 general magazines and academic journals, of which articles from about 350 are available full-text. Covers current affairs, social sciences, and the humanities, and has limited coverage of sciences and business. Social Sciences Index/Fulltext indexes about 350 journals in the social sciences, of which articles from about 220 are available full-text. You do not have to type k= before typing your terms; use the ? (question mark) to truncate (substitute for word endings). Use the Location Guide at the Compact Disc Stations or use Acorn to find the call number and location of the magazines in which the articles appear. STEP FOUR--Look at sources in the Government Information Department ("Documents"): A. Newsmagazines Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, 1946-. (Govt. Info. Ref. Alcove JK1.C15--West Wall) Referred to as "CQ Weekly." Weekly newsmagazine that reports Presidential policies and Congressional committee and floor activities. Cumulative indexes (yellow pages). Indexed on dwil and PAIS. National Journal, 1969-. (Govt. Info. Ref. Alcove JK1.N28--West Wall) Weekly newsmagazine of politics and government, including all three branches of government. Unlike CQ Weekly, for each subject National Journal gives a more comprehensive summary and background report on an irregular basis rather than reporting developments week by week. Indexed on dwil and PAIS. B. Indexes GPO on Silver Platter, 1976-. (Govt. Info. Compact Disc Stations) Compact disc version for 1976 to date of The Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1895- (Govt. Info. Reference Alcove GP3.8--South Wall). The most comprehensive finding aid for U.S. government publications. A catalog of all documents received by GPO. Includes author, title, subject, and keyword title indexes. Subject headings are the same as for Acorn. CIS Index, 1970-. (Govt. Info. Ref. Alcove Z1223.A66--North Wall) Known as "CIS." Lists U.S. Congressional publications, such as hearings, committee prints, and reports. Recent government publications: United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Correctional Populations in the United States. Rockville, MD: Justice Statistics Clearinghouse, National Criminal Justice Reference Service, 1985-. (Govt. Info. J 29.17) Data on prison populations, probation, census of local jails, parole, and capital punishment. United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Death Sentencing Issues: hearings, 102nd Cong., 1st sess., July 10 and 24, 1991. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1991. 271 pp. (Govt. Info. Y 4. J89/1:102-33) United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Habeas Corpus Legislation: hearings, May 24 and June 6, 1990. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1991. (Govt. Info. Y 4.J 89/1:101/145) Viewpoints of judges, law professors, and practitioners representing both the prosecution and the defense, on proposed revisions of the habeas corpus laws, particularly in regard to capital cases. United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Death Penalty Legislation and the Racial Justice Act: hearings, May 3 and 9, 1990. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1991. 574 pp. (Govt. Info. Y 4.J 89/1:101/125) Racial disparities in death sentencing; proposed procedures for a federal death penalty. United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Federal death penalty legislation: hearings, March 14 and May 23, 1990. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1990. (Govt. Info. Y 4.J 89/1:101/95) Proposed legislation expanding capital punishment for federal offenses. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Government Operations. Who is on Trial? Conflicts between the Federal and State Judicial Systems in Criminal Cases: hearing, Feb. 26, 1988. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1988. 197 pp. (Govt. Info. Y4.G74/7:T73/3) Examines the proper role of the federal courts in death penalty appeals cases. United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Capital Punishment: hearings, Nov. 7, 1985- July 24, 1986. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1987. 514 pp. (Govt. Info. Y4.J89/1:99/133) United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Death Penalty: hearing, July 16, 1987. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1989. 95 pp. (Govt. Info. Y4.J89/1:100/142) United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Death Penalty Legislation: hearing, Sept. 24, 1985. Serial no. J-99-53. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1986. 107 pp. (Govt. Info. Y4.J89/2:S.hrg.99-497) United States. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Death Penalty Legislation and the Racial Justice Act: hearings, May 3-9, 1990. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Printing Office, 1991. 574 pp. (Govt. Info. Y4.J89/1:101/125) Other basic articles in other Vanderbilt libraries include: Blakley, Alan F. "The Cost of Killing Criminals." Northern Kentucky Law Review 18 (Fall 1990): 61- 79. (Law Library Periodicals) Attempts to quantify accumulated costs of death penalty sentences since 1979-81. Garvey, Stephen P. "Politicizing Who Dies." Yale Law Journal 101 (Oct. 1991): 187-209. (Law Library Periodicals) Examines trends in US Supreme Court decisions channelling the power to decide on capital punishment to those who are politically accountable. Gewerth, Kenneth E., and Clifford K. Dorne. "Imposing the Death Penalty on Juvenile Murderers: A Constitutional Assessment." Judicature 75 (June/July 1991): 6-15. (Law Library Periodicals) Rapaport, Elizabeth. "The Death Penalty and Gender Discrimination." Law and Society Review 25 (no. 2 of 1991): 367-83. (Law Library Periodicals) Examines the apparent leniency shown by the justice system towards women in capital crime sentencing. Richards, Jef I., and R. Bruce Easter. "Televising Executions: the High-Tech Alternative to Public Hangings." UCLA Law Review 40 (Dec. 1992): 381-421. (Law Library Periodicals) Sturm, Douglas. "The Ultimate Sanction." Christianity and Crisis 45 (April 15, 1985): 127-8. (Divinity Per. BR1.C6417--2nd level) Death penalty is given to the indigent and to those who kill whites. Prepared by Larry Romans and Tom Rupsis, Central Library, Vanderbilt University, September 1993