Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Although Taiwan is not the only country that still has the capital punishment, the existence of this penal institution is rather unusual. In this country, where people generally do not trust the court and the government due to various historical and political reasons, the death penalty which is rendered by the court and excuted by the government has surprisingly gained huge support from the public.
Through analyzing court decisions and any other discourse that support death penalty, my paper is intended to show that the capital punishment has served certain important functions for the society of Taiwan, and is thus still enthusiastically defended by many people even though it has encountered various legal, ethical and theological challenges. The purpose of this paper is not to provide more legitimacy of the death penalty. It is rather a reminder for abolitionists not to overlook any possible “positive” meaning of the death penalty, if they really want to put an end to this penal institution in the human society.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Using data collected from records at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME), this study uses multinomial logistic regression to explore differences in the likelihood of migrants having died in specific ways when taking into consideration biological sex, age and sending-region. This study finds that when controlling for all other independent variables, recovered bodies of unauthorized border crossers (UBCs) from the northern region of México were significantly less likely to die of exposure and motor vehicle accident when compared to homicide than UBCs from México’s central region. Further, when controlling for all other covariates, it appears that younger as well as older recovered UBCs are more likely to die of motor vehicle accident than exposure. These differences speak largely to the social contacts UBCs rely on to facilitate an attempted unauthorized crossing and how said contacts vary with UBC demographic characteristics. Findings from this study offer possible points of departure for future research, especially those focusing on social contacts used to facilitate crossings. Further, findings from this study could be used to develop community education campaigns in regions where UBCs may be at higher risk for dying a certain way when compared to other causes of death.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper seeks to uncover the effect of state strength on the type of death squad. It is argued that police and paramilitary death squads are more likely to be a reflection of the weak state. The hypothesis rests on the assumption that police and military death squads work within a weak state and with the state's financial elite as tools of oppression against the economically deprived. Using Thomas Volgy's measure of state strength, countries with police or paramilitary death squads are analyzed in terms of state strength during a period when there existed active death squads within the country under study. The time line for this analysis covers a twenty year period.

Publication Type: Symposium Paper
Abstract: Much research has at its core the belief that, in a capital case, the worst possible outcome is a death sentence; few scholars have explored the possibility that, for some, life in prison without possibility of parole (LWOP) may represent a more punitive sentencing option. Combining qualitative and quantitative data, this paper presents two studies which suggest that for some participants, LWOP is perceived as a harsher punishment than death, and may be selected because the participant wants the defendant to suffer more. This research has important implications for advocates, researchers, victims and defendants, as well as policy- and decision-makers.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Death penalty commissions have been established by governors, legislators and state bar associations across the nation over the past decade to examine problems associated with the death penalty and make remedial recommendations. This paper explores recent death penalty commissions in six states as agenda setting mechanisms that resulted in substantive changes in state death penalty law. In each of the cases studied, we look at the precipitating crisis or event(s) that led to the establishment of the commission, the composition of the commissions, the agenda-setter's charge to the commission, the political environment and the nature of the recommendations made. _x000d__x000d_Findings suggest that the power of the agenda setter and the political environment are both important variables. The political context, the composition of commissions, the charge given to the commission and the framing the issue appeared to have a significant influence on policy outcomes.