SOCIAL SCIENTISTS SHOULD BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH THE ISSUE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. INDIVIDUAL CASES, IN PARTICULAR, REQUIRE THE EXPERT TESTIMONY OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS. SOCIOLEGAL RESEARCH IS ALSO NEEDED IN THE BROADER ISSUES, SUCH AS DETERRENCE, DISCRIMINATION, PUBLIC OPINION, REHABILITATION AND PREVENTION AND CAUSATION. PREVIOUS STUDIES AND SURVEYS MUST BE REPLICATED AND NEW RESEARCH STRATEGIES NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO FULLY EXPLORE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DEATH PENALTY. RESULTS OF INDIVIDUAL EVALUATIONS AND RESEARCH STUDIES THEN MUST BE CONCEPTUALIZED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO BE UTILIZED IN COURT DECISIONS. ROLES FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST INCLUDE PSYCHIATRIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND TREATMENT, AND COURT TESTIMONY ON INDIVIDUAL CASES, EITHER ALONE OR AS PART OF A TEAM DEFENSE. A LIST OF 24 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LGR)