Reviews the history and current status of the death penalty in the U.S., focusing on the legal and ethical issues of its use by the criminal justice system.

"It is impossible to avoid the constant media barrage of reports detailing human-made and natural disasters and amplifying the threat of such disasters. Beyond the news headlines, recent disasters have prompted the restructuring of the U.S. government, namely, the formation of the Department of Homeland Security and the reorganization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the ever-present prospect of disaster from hurricanes, tornadoes,...