The United States Supreme Court decision in Atkins v. Virginia takes up the
question of weather __________.
a. The imposition of the death penalty was proportionate to the crime
committed.
b. The imposition of the death penalty was disproportionate to penalties
imposed for similar crimes in Virginia.
c. The death penalty is cruel and unusual and hence unconstitutional.
d. The imposition of the death penalty on a mentally retarded person violates
the Constitution.
Question 2Van den Haag argues that the death penalty is more feared than any other human
punishment and that the more feared a punishment is, the greater the deterrent
impact it will have. How does Reiman respond to this claim?
a. He argues that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent, because
criminals already put themselves at risk of death.
b. He argues that there is little evidence that capital punishment works because
few criminals engage in a costbenefit analysis before they commit crimes.
c. He argues that the less feared punishment may still be enough to deter
anyone who can be deterred.
d. All of the above
