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POLI 203
Race, Innocence, and the End of the Death Penalty
Lectures: M, W, 11:15-12:05pm, Hamilton Hall (Pauli Murray Hall), 100
Mandatory evening lectures from special guests including those exonerated after serving on death row: 8 Monday evenings, 5:30 to 7:30pm, exact dates TBA

Spring 2025

Prof. Frank R. Baumgartner
313 Hamilton Hall, phone (919) 962-0414
Frankb@unc.edu
Web site: http://fbaum.unc.edu/

Office hours: Tu 2:30-3:30pm, We 12:05-1:25pm and by appointment



Welcome to the website for POLI 203, Race, Innocence, and the End of the Death Penalty, Spring 2025 edition.

This is a place-holder website for now, but check back here as the semester approaches for more information about the class.

Books required for all students to purchase:

  1. Baumgartner, Frank R., Marty Davidson, Kaneesha R. Johnson, Arvind Krishnamurthy, and Colin P. Wilson. 2018. Deadly Justice: A Statistical Portrait of the Death Penalty. New York: Oxford University Press. (Note: Royalties from the sale of this book go to the UNC Political Science Department and are used for student enrichment, including for the speakers series associated with this class.)
  2. Harris, Lynden, ed. 2021. Right Here, Right Now: Life Stories from America’s Death Row. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
  3. (Additional readings, TBA.)

Note: The class requires attendance at 8 evening speakers events, on Mondays at 5:30 to 7:00pm. Exact dates TBA. These are mandatory (but they are also the most interesting part of the class!). These are also open to the public, so you can invite your roomates parents, and friends.

page last updated October 7, 2024