Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1988-12-09

Duration: 00:20:30

Subjects: Capital Punishment | Crime | Criminal justice, Administration of

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Harvey, Elizabeth Interviewee
• Harvey, Vernon Interviewee
• Prejean, Helen Interviewee
• Nordyke, Keith Interviewee
• Bryant, Rick Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from December 9, 1988, focuses on capital punishment. Roger Sockman first reports on the use of the death penalty in Louisiana. His report includes interviews with Elizabeth Harvey and Vernon Harvey, the parents of murder victim Faith Hathaway, and Sister Helen Prejean, a pro-life advocate. Ken Lormand then conducts an in-studio interview with Keith Nordyke, a defense attorney, and Rick Bryant, a prosecutor in Calcasieu Parish. They discuss: their views on capital punishment; the disproportionate use of the death penalty on minorities and the poor; people’s fears that people sentenced to life in prison will be released; age restrictions; insanity pleas and verdicts; and the rights of victims’ families.