BOOKS: Murder and the Death Penalty in Massachusetts

Murder and the Death Penalty in Massachusetts by Alan Rogers explores the unique history of the capital punishment in Massachusetts. Rogers chronicles the more than 300 years that Massachusetts executed men and women in the state through to the eventual abolition of the punishment in 1984. The historical approach recounts the Puritans’ views on capital punishment in the 1700’s, the 1830’s House vote that almost abolished the death penalty, and the cases that were the turning point for the state.

A sample of reviews of this book:

“The range and depth of coverage are impressive…The twelve chapters address key aspects of jurisprudence, such as defendant rights, the insanity issue, the right to an attorney, criminal discovery, confession, and the selection of an impartial jury…This is masterful scholarship on an immensely important subject.” Lawrence Goodheart, author of Mad Yankees.

"This book is a perfect model for any future death penalty historian- one can only hope that Rogers’ successors will do for a state such as Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio what he has done for Massachusetts.” Hugo Bedeau, author of The Death Penalty in America.

Murder and the Death Penalty in Massachusetts (University of Massachusetts Press, 2008) can be purchased here. See also Books.