Description
Book SynopsisApologies from Death Row explores the notion of remorse, apologies, and forgiveness within the context of capital punishment in the United States, through the final words of offenders on death row, and the covictims' responses to them in their statements to the press after witnessing the execution.
The book demonstrates that there is evidence that some offenders on death row are truly remorseful and that some of the family members of their victims could benefit from this remorse, but that this is unlikely in the current system of capital punishment. Drawing from the fields of criminology, psychology, and sociology, the book begins with a theoretically informed introduction to the concepts of remorse and forgiveness, followed by an exploration of apology and forgiveness specifically in the context of capital punishment. It discusses how some initiatives within the criminal justice system, such as apology laws and restorative justice programmes, are being used t
Table of Contents
1. Remorse and Forgiveness in the Criminal Justice System 2. Remorse in the Unique Context of Death Row 3. The Remorseful Offender? Evidence From Their Last Statements 4. The Forgiving Victim? Evidence From Their Statements to the Media 5. Implications for the Death Penalty and Justice Systems in General
