Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be able to:

13.1 Discuss the evolution of law within the field of corrections.
13.2 Identify issues and cases involving the First, Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
13.3 State how and why prisoners’ petitions have been curtailed.
13.4 Discuss the legal and ethical issues surrounding the death penalty.
13.5 Explain the difficulty in determining whether the death penalty is a deterrent.
13.6 Discuss the financial cost/benefit ratio of the death penalty.
13.7 Analyze the disparities related to race, gender, and disability with regard to the death penalty.
13.8 Describe the innocence revolution.