Why do concerns about racial prejudice arise in death penalty cases?

Concerns regarding racial prejudice in capital punishment arise from historical and statistical evidence suggesting that the system is applied inconsistently and discriminatorily. Critics argue that the death penalty is often used as a modern extension of lynching, a practice that historically targeted Black individuals under the guise of legal authority.1

Statistical data frequently highlights significant disparities:
* Prosecution and Sentencing: People of color are more likely to be prosecuted for capital murder and sentenced to death, particularly when the victim is white.1
* Historical Context: Between 1930 and 1972, 89 percent of those executed for rape in the United States were Black.2
* Modern Disproportionality: Despite representing a smaller percentage of the total population, Black individuals make up a disproportionate share of death row inmates and those executed.1

These concerns were central to the landmark Supreme Court case Furman v. Georgia, where the Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional when applied in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner. The legal system is fundamentally obligated to ensure that justice is applied fairly, impartially, and consistently, regardless of a defendant's race or socioeconomic status.2