Topic
Public Safety
Clear, evidence-led guides to public safety, accountability, deterrence, and the questions communities ask about capital punishment.
Public Safety
What Is Capital Punishment? A Plain-Language Definition
Capital punishment is a legal system in which the government may impose death as a criminal sentence. Here is what the term means, how it differs from other severe sentences, and why the question still matters in New York.
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Public Safety
Death Penalty and Mental Illness: What the Law Does Not Settle
A plain-language guide to serious mental illness in capital cases, the limits of legal safeguards, and why accountability does not require execution.
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Public Safety
Racial Bias in the Death Penalty: What the Evidence Shows
Racial bias can shape capital cases through charging, sentencing, and the race of a victim. Here is what the research shows and why it matters.
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Public Safety
Death Penalty Wrongful Convictions: What Exonerations Show
People sentenced to death have later been exonerated. Here is what those cases show, why review matters, and why an execution cannot be corrected.
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Public Safety
Capital Punishment Pros and Cons: What Matters Most
A clear look at the arguments for and against capital punishment, including accountability, safety, cost, fairness, and the risk of irreversible error.
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Public Safety
What Is Life Without Parole? A Plain-Language Guide
Life without parole means a person remains in prison for life without a future parole hearing. Here is what that sentence does and does not mean.
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Public Safety
Which States Have the Death Penalty? A Current Guide
A clear guide to the states that still retain capital punishment, what a moratorium means, and why New York's federal cases remain different.
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Public Safety
Does the Death Penalty Cost More Than Life Without Parole?
Yes. Capital cases cost more than life without parole because they require specialized defense, a separate sentencing process, and years of review.
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Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime? What Research Can Show
Research has not shown that executions reduce homicide. Here is what the evidence can and cannot tell us about deterrence and public safety.
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