ABSTRACT
The role of religion in the criminal justice system has evolved over time, yet the relevance of religion has become increasingly more contentious. One area of the criminal justice system where religion plays an important role is in the death penalty. Indeed, the primary criminal justice issue on which religious institutions voice their positions on is capital punishment. The current chapter examines several avenues in which religion pertains to the death penalty. First, it will assess religion as a foundation for the development of the death penalty in law. Second, it will assess the religious themes in trials and religious appeals. Third, it will assess the religious beliefs of jurors and how these beliefs might be related to their verdicts and sentencing decisions. To conclude, this chapter will examine implications of the current research and propose future directions regarding the role of religion in the death penalty and criminal justice system.
