Wretched Sisters: Examining Gender and Capital Punishmend (Studies in Crime and Punishment)

Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, fourteen women have been put to death in the United States. The criminal justice system defines crimes committed by women in a particularly gendered context. Wretched Sisters is unique in its analysis of the legal and cultural circumstances that determine why a small number of women are sentenced to death and provides a detailed account of how these fourteen women came to be subjected to the ultimate punishment. Cover Contents v Acknowledgments vii Acknowledgments (2014) ix Introduction to the Second Edition 1 Chapter 1. Why So Few and Why These Few? Gender and Criminology 11 Chapter 2. A Capriciously Selected Random Handful 25 Chapter 3. Setting Precedent 39 Chapter 4. She Didn’t Look Like a Killer 71 Chapter 5. Domestic Offenses 95 Chapter 6. The Oklahoma Three 131 Chapter 7. Aggravating Circumstances: Killing Children and Cops 165 Chapter 8. The “Monster” 189 Chapter 9. Perilously Close to Simple Murder 215 Chapter 10. Not The “Triggerman” 239 Chapter 11. #500 and #510 265 Chapter 12. Lessons from Wretched Sisters 295 Bibliography 301 Why So Few And Why These Few? : Gender And Criminology -- A Capriciously Selected Random Handful -- Setting Precedent -- She Didn't Look Like A Killer -- Domestic Offenses -- The Oklahoma Three -- Aggravating Circumstances : Killing Children And Cops -- The Monster -- Perilously Close To Simple Murder -- Not The Triggerman -- #500 And #510 -- Lessons From Wretched Sisters. Mary Welek Atwell. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 301-307).