Identifier
etd-04262011-131720
Degree
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Department
Social Work
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Death penalty cases are truly the most unique cases in the criminal justice system. Much research has been done showing that the death qualification process venripersons must undergo results in jurors un-empathetic to the kind of information used to mitigate the death penalty, as well as creating a jury that is more susceptible to pretrial publicity. This study reviews this research and analyzes the content of a New Orleans’ newspaper’s coverage of three incidents resulting in capital trials. It was found that, similar to a study done in California that was the model for this study’s content analysis, the newspaper relied heavily on law enforcement, prosecutors and prosecutorial lay witnesses, and emphasized details used to seek a guilty verdict and to seek the death penalty. Implications of these findings on capital defense teams were discussed.
Date
2011
Document Availability at the Time of Submission
Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.
Recommended Citation
Muggivan, Sean Seosop, "The Times-Picayune coverage of three incidents resulting in capital trials" (2011). LSU Master's Theses. 2380.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/2380
Committee Chair
Bartheley, Juan J.
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_theses.2380