A Comparison of Executions and Death to Life Commutations in Kentucky, 1901–2019. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monahan, Ed; Vito, Anthony G.; Vito, Gennaro F.
• Is Part Of: Prison journal. Volume 101:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 591
• Page End: 608
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: capital punishment -- commutation -- Barnett Scale -- racial discrimination; Prisons -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 365.6
• DOI: 10.1177/00328855211048185
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-8855

Abstract

This study examines the administration of capital punishment in Kentucky. Comparing execution and death to life commutation cases from 1901–2019, we consider the purpose of the commutation process and its utilization considering offender-victim relationships and the severity of the homicide as determined by the Barnett Scale. While a higher score on the Barnett Scale predicted execution, there remained a pattern of racial discrimination between the two decisions.