View source for Michael L. Radelet

{{Short description|American sociologist}}
{{multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=December 2016}}
{{notability|Academics|date=December 2016}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=December 2016}}
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{{Infobox scientist
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| name              = Michael L. Radelet
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| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1950|10|24}}
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| death_date        = <!--{{death date and age |YYYY|MM|DD |YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date)-->
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| nationality       = American
| fields            = [[Sociology]]
| workplaces        = [[University of Colorado Boulder]]
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| education         = [[Michigan State University]]<br>[[Eastern Michigan University]]<br>[[Purdue University]]
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| thesis_title      = Social factors influencing medicalization of anxiety: a study of tranquilizer use
| thesis_url        = https://books.google.com/books?id=FU_NwgEACAAJ
| thesis_year       = 1977
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'''Michael L. Radelet''' (born October 24, 1950),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88119332.html |title=Radelet, Michael L. |website=Library of Congress Name Authority File |access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref> is a sociologist at the [[University of Colorado Boulder]]. He is a professor and chairs the Department of [[Sociology]] at the university.  In his research, Radelet focuses on his interests in [[criminology]], [[deviance (sociology)|deviance]], [[capital punishment]], societal reaction to crime, racial disparities in death sentencing and crime victims. Radelet has taught courses covering introductory sociology, criminology for both [[Undergraduate degree|undergraduate]] and [[Graduate diploma|graduate]] levels, capital punishment for both undergraduate and graduate levels, sociology of [[mental health]] and [[Disease|illness]] for both [[Undergraduate degree|undergraduate]] and graduate levels, graduate seminar on health professions, social and ethical issues in medical practice, human development, statistics, and social problems.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://deathpenalty.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=006096|title=Michael L. Radelet, PhD|website=deathpenalty.procon.org}}</ref> He is the author of the book ''Facing the Death Penalty'' that was published in 1989, in which he describes the realities of capital punishment to those condemned.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/9662|title=Facing the Death Penalty: Essays on a Cruel and Unusual Punishment|date=1990-01-01|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=9781439907801|location=Temple University|language=en}}</ref>
==  Career ==
Radelet has been a professor at many universities and has taught in many fields of study throughout his career. Before his work at University of Colorado Boulder, Radelet worked as a professor and the chair of the department of sociology at the University of Florida, where many of his works originated. He has taught all over the U.S. in places like the [[University of Florida]], [[Florida State]], [[University of Colorado]], [[Indiana University]], [[Eastern Michigan University]] and [[Wisconsin University]]. Radelet has lectured and taught: Mental Health Administration, Sociology of Mental Health and Illnesses, Criminology, Special Topics on Capital Punishment, and Human Development.<ref name=":1" />
== Research and findings ==
Radelet throughout his career has studied the impact that the death penalty has on the mind, and on society.<ref name=":3" /> In the midst of the ongoing debate on whether or not the death penalty is more deterrent than long-term imprisonment, Radelet's studies revealed findings that could alter the system. His works surveyed many, coming up with multiple conclusions regarding the issue. These results are described in his article 'Do Executions Lower Homicide Rates: The Views of Leading Criminologists.'<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7323&context=jclc|title=Do Executions Lower Homicide Rates: The Views of Leading Criminologists|last=Lacock|first=Tracy L|date=2008|website=scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu|publisher=Tracy L. Lacock}}</ref> One of the main statistics projected in this article states that 88% of criminologists do not believe that capital punishment is an effective deterrent to homicide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/study-88-criminologists-do-not-believe-death-penalty-effective-deterrent|title=Study: 88% of criminologists do not believe the death penalty is an effective deterrent {{!}} Death Penalty Information Center|website=www.deathpenaltyinfo.org|access-date=2016-11-06}}</ref> Radelet's knowledge in Psychology and Criminology helped him produce his book "Facing the Death Penalty." This book portrays what Michael experienced while working with those who are facing the death penalty. It talks a lot about the benefits and inhumanities of the death penalty and how Radelet's experience may change people’s views.
=== Racial disparities ===
Radelet has uncovered many facts and statistics relating to the problem of [[Race in the United States criminal justice system|racial disparities in the federal death penalty]]. He has statistics dating back to 1991 during the first federal death penalty prosecution. In the history of those who were prosecuted and sentenced to the death penalty,  most were of color.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/files/pdfs/capital/racial_disparities_federal_deathpen.pdf|title=The Persistent Problem of Racial Disparities in The Federal Death Penalty}}</ref> These injustices continue today, more and more whites are able to evade the death penalty better than blacks.<ref name=":2" />
These injustices revealed by Radelet made the notion that racism is in the justice system apparent. These studies triggered an uprising of debate on whether the death penalty is a fair punishment.<ref name=":0" />
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Google Scholar id|SbebBakAAAAJ}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Colorado Boulder faculty]]
[[Category:American sociologists]]
[[Category:Sociology educators]]
[[Category:University of Florida faculty]]
[[Category:Michigan State University alumni]]
[[Category:Eastern Michigan University alumni]]
[[Category:Purdue University alumni]]