The list of executed Harris County inmates includes 22 black men and 16 whites convicted of killing during a robbery. Beyond that, robbery victims tend to be white. This is crucial because the statistical association between the race of the victim and the likelihood of a death sentence being pursued is hard to deny. Of those awaiting execution, the minority percentage rises to almost 54 percent. Texas figures are comparable.
Most homicides are within the same race, except for robberies.
And the death penalty, he said, is driven more by the victim than the offender. In deciding whether to seek a death sentence, we look at the value of the victims to society. Return to top Click on banner for more information Making a Dramatic Difference. Treasures from Lost Civilization.