I always look at these kinder and gentler jurys and wonder how they would feel if they had to sit and look at photos of their son or daughter hacked up and discarded like a piece of trash, after being raped and tortured for days on end. Sentence them to death and turn them over to the family members to carry out the states decree.
Perhaps these juries are afraid of retaliation. They are seen by the criminal, their families, their friends, fellow gangbangers. I am sure that if they could, the juries would suggest harsher punishment. However, since they are opnely in the court, stared at for hours, I am sure that they live in fear during these trials that if they were to suggest something harsh, then they would get attacked themselves.
Frankly we need to figure out a way to telecommute for jury participants.