The Death Penalty And Race.

Since capital punishment was reinstated in California in 1977, death sentences against black defendants, but not Latinos, have been disproportionately enormous by almost every measure: population, homicide rates, victim data and the sentencing patterns of other states.

California's 5-to-1 ratio of blacks on death row to blacks in the state population, measured in percentages, is much higher than the ratios in Texas, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. The national average is 3 to 1.

The California Commission on the Fair Administration of justice wants why the death penalty is sought in some cases but not in others and what impact race has in that decision.  The Fresno Bee explains.