THE FIRST SECTION OF THE VOLUME PROVIDES A PERSPECTIVE ON THE CRIME OF MURDER AND PERCEIVED BREAKDOWNS IN PAROLE BOARD RESPECT FOR A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT. SEVERAL GRUESOME MURDERS ARE EXAMINED ALONG WITH THE PAROLE OUTCOMES OF THE PERPETRATORS WHO HAD BEEN SENTENCED OBSTENSIVELY TO PRISON FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LIVES. THE FOLLOWING SECTION HIGHLIGHTS ARGUMENTS RELATING TO CRIMINAL RIGHTS VERSUS VICTIM RIGHTS, THE INCAPACITATIVE FUNCTION OF PENAL APPROACHES, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THREAT OF DEATH AND CRIME DETERRENCE. MORAL ARGUMENTS RELATING TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ARE ALSO DISCUSSED, AS ARE THOSE REGARDING ITS ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY APPLICATION. THE FINAL SECTION PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S POSITION CONCERNING THE DEATH PENALTY; PRELIMINARY JUDICIAL SKIRMISHES OVER CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH TWO LANDMARK OPINIONS, FURMAN V. GEORGIA AND GREGG V. GEORGIA. MATERIALS SUPPORTING THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND PROVIDING EVIDENCE AGAINST ITS DISCRIMINATORY USE ARE APPENDED. REFERENCE NOTES CLOSE EACH CHAPTER. AN INDEX IS INCLUDED. (KBL)