ABSTRACT
Introduction Capital punishment is a complex issue that can be studied and debated from various perspectives. The death penalty is a policy of the criminal justice system and can be evaluated as other policies are-for effectiveness, cost, and unintended consequences. It is a legal issue, and
its use in the United States can be critiqued in terms of the standards set by the Constitution and by Supreme Court decisions. Capital punishment is also a human rights issue; international law is increasingly concerned with its use.
