150 years of crime & punishment in Western New York
Keene, Michael
2012
The author takes us on a journey into the past, investigating thirteen true stories of the dark side of local history. Drawing upon years of original research, often uncovering new clues, learn some of Western New York's most shocking crimes.
Damien Echols, who served eighteen years on death row, and Lorri Davis, Damien's pen pal, recount through their letters how they met, fell in love and ultimately were able to get Damien released from prison.
should America have capital punishment? : the experts on both sides make their best case
Bedau, Hugo Adam
2004
Presents the arguments of seven lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and philosophers for and against the death penalty, and includes Illinois governor George Ryan's 2003 speech in which he commuted all of his state's death sentences.
Contains essays that provide a variety of perspectives on questions of whether the death penalty should be legal, whether capital punishment is just, and if it is applied fairly.
African-American John Coffey is a gentle giant of a man who is convicted of raping and murdering two little girls in 1935. While on death row Coffey must contend with pyschotic inmates and sadistic guards, but his fellow inmates and the prison guards soon see that he has the uncanny ability to heal people and animals.
Chronicles the clemency hearings of 167 death row inmates in the state of Illinois, and examines former governor George Ryan's decision to commute their death sentences shortly before the end of his gubernatorial term.
