Clarence Darrow

Clarence Darrow was a Chicago lawyer who became famous for his handling of criminal and labor cases. He chose to defend those whom he considered social unfortunates. He argued on behalf of more than one hundred people charged with murder, none of whom were sentenced to death. Although he retired in 1927, he continued to write prolifically on the causes of crime and to argue vehemently for the abolition of the death penalty. His most famous courtroom pleas are included in the book Attorney for the Damned. In the following viewpoint, Darrow maintains that capital punishment is no deterrent to crime. He advances his theory that as victims of their culture, criminals need to be treated more humanely.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. To what does Darrow attribute the causes of crime...