Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think American corrections would like today if Congress had never created the sentence for possession of crack cocaine that was far lengthier than the sentence for possession of powder cocaine?
  2.  After reading Case Study 3.1, what are some questions that a prosecutor might use to remove potential black jurors via peremptory challenges?
  3.  Given the decline in executions and the change in public opinion regarding the death penalty, discuss the impact this may have on discriminatory sentencing in capital cases.
  4. Hate crime legislation is based on the notion that it is wrong to harm someone based on race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Compare and contrast treating hate crimes as independent crimes versus providing enhanced penalties for crimes that are motivated by bias.