Just Mercy

The United States is the only Western country to use the death penalty. Behind China, it executes the greatest number of people each year. Consider why this might be. What about America’s history or culture has allowed for this? What links does Stevenson draw between the death penalty and what it means to be “American?”

Stevenson presents the legal cases of both men and women, juveniles and adults. How does gender and/or age affect the cases he describes? Consider the standards of living, the prison “culture,” and the inmates themselves at facilities for men vs. women and for adults vs. juvenile offenders? 

Consider the childhoods of two of more convicts—what similarities do they share? Could something have been done in their formative years to prevent their incarceration? Defend your position. 

What input, if any, should the families of victims have in deciding the fate of convicted criminals? Their wishes, as Just Mercy shows, are frequently taken into consideration. They are sometimes even present for executions. Should there be limits to their involvement? Why or why not? 

Many people are involved in a single trial—a defendant, a judge, lawyers on both sides, and a jury. In your opinion and based on what you’ve read, who is most important element in a trial? Who truly decides a defendant’s fate, and what are the limitations of their power?

If you could create a perfect justice system, what might it look like? How would you prevent or address the injustices and flaws presented in Just Mercy? 

This book deals heavily with racial bias in policing, with officers treating black civilians—particularly young black men—with greater than suspicion than others. This has only become more apparent since Just Mercy’s 2014 publication. Consider more recent cases such as Philandro Castile, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and many others. What does Stevenson’s work tell us about the reasons and mechanisms behind these? What does Just Mercy illuminate about a justice system in which the officers are frequently not convicted for these deaths?

What is the connection between money and justice? Stevenson believes that the opposite of poverty is justice. Do you believe this? Why or why not? In what ways does poverty contribute to injustice? Be sure to cite examples from the cases Stevenson writes about.