Volume 3, Issue 1

Talia Roitberg Harmon and David McCord examine 1,665 death-eligible cases from 1994, 2004, and 2014 to draw empirically based conclusions that can shed light on some significant predictors associated with the two-decade dramatic decline in death sentences.

Kristine Artello and Jay Albanese elucidate the decision-making processes by state actors that occur in corruption investigation and prosecution. They found that experience, access, resources, and institutional barriers are all challenges to successful investigations.

Phillip Marcin and Nancy Marion examine agenda setting in state courts of last resorts through content analysis of speeches by the Chief Justice. A content analysis of the end-of-the-year speeches delivered by the justices was conducted to determine patterns/trends in rhetoric.

Brittany Ripper and Robert Johnson propose a framework to be used for sentencing juvenile lifers in light of the Supreme Court’s opinions and the Third Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in United States v. Grant (2018).