DEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been a staple in the justice system of America since its inception. Though very controversial, it has stood the test of time as the ultimate punishment. Many countries are currently abolishing their death penalty practice. America, on the other hand, has thirty-eight of fifty states with laws regarding the death penalty. It seems the United States requires the death penalty more than ever due to the increased rate of violent crime. Since nineteen ninety more than three hundred fifty people have been put to death with another three thousand three hundred in the waiting on death row. On a larger scale, since nineteen seventy-six five hundred fifty-two executions have occurred in the United States, the breakdown is as follows: three hundred ninety-four by lethal injection, one hundred forty-one by electrocution, eleven by gas chamber, three by hanging, and two by firing squad. Half of the post- nineteen seventy-six executions have occurred within the last five years, including fifty-two so far this year. Although the death penalty has brought many viscous criminals to a “fitting” end, the process by which the death penalty is based upon is an inconsistent one. The system of tangled appeals, court orders, and last minute pardons has rendered the entire system ineffective. As displayed by the swelling of the stagnant pool of death row inmates, criminals are not deterred by the punishment. “ An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life. Morality is never upheld by legalized murder.”
Many loopholes exist in the structure of the death penalty. The outcome of the case is decided by the quality of the lawyer defending the accused. Many criminals cannot afford a competent lawyer, resulting in a greater chance of that particular person being issued the death penalty, as opposed to life in prison. A fine line separates these two charges, and a defendant who can afford a competent lawyer stands less of a chance of being assigned the death penalty than one who cannot. Also studies show that the application of the death penalty is racial biased. The amount of violent crimes are split almost equally between the white and black ethnic groups.
Since nineteen seventy-seven eighty-two percent of the criminals assigned the death penalty have committed the crime in question against a Caucasian.
Another glaring defect of the structure of the death penalty system in America are the laws regarding the sentencing of criminals under the age of eighteen.
Minors can be sentenced to death in twenty-four states.
From the time the first colonists arrived in the late Sixteen Hundreds Pennsylvania executions were carried out by public hanging (Cor.state.pa.us, 2014). In Eighteen Forty Three, Pennsylvania became the first state to abolish public hangings. From Eighteen Thirty Four until Nineteen Fifty Three each county was responsible for carrying out private hanging of criminal within the wall of the county jail.
The death penalty continues to be an issue of controversy and is an issue that will be debated in the United States for many years to come. According to Hugo A. Bedau, the writer of “The Death Penalty in America”, capital punishment is the lawful infliction of the death penalty. The death penalty has been used since ancient times for a variety of offenses. The Bible says that death should be done to anyone who commits murder, larceny, rapes, and burglary. It appears that public debate on the death penalty has changed over the years and is still changing, but there are still some out there who are for the death penalty and will continue to believe that it’s a good punishment. I always hear a lot of people say “an eye for an eye.” Most people feel strongly that if a criminal took the life of another, their’s should be taken away as well, and I don’t see how the death penalty could deter anyone from committing crimes if your going to do the crime then at that moment your not thinking about being on death role. I don’t think they should be put to death they should just sit in a cell for the rest of their life and think about how they destroy other families. A change in views and attitudes about the death penalty are likely attributed to results from social science research. The changes suggest a gradual movement toward the eventual abolition of capital punishment in America (Radelet and Borg, 2000).
It is unnerving to think that everyday some of the most unspeakable murders and killings take place just under the noses of the authorities and normal people. The killers responsible for these crimes are threats to society and deserve capital punishment. The death penalty is an acceptable and fair method of punishment because it serves justice, provides victim’s families with closure, and increases safety.
In America, there have been five different execution methods used. These five methods consist of hanging, firing squad, gas chamber, electrocution, and lethal injection. The next five sections of this paper will cover each of these methods in greater detail.
Many people have strong pro and con feelings on this subject, discussed and argued about only second to abortion. Putting another human being to death is a hard thing to think about until you realize the horrible things one person can do to another without drastic punishment as a determent.
The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics debated today. Like every controversial topic, there are two sides to it. Each side has valid arguments for what they believe, however, I believe that one side is more right than the other. Some of the arguments that come into play when discussing the death penalty are the following: the cost of having someone on death row, a person has the right to live, whether or not it discourages crime, and possible innocence of the defendant.
Here in the United States there are different forms of execution used. Lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging and firing squad: While lethal injection is an acceptable form of execution in all states, there are states that use alternative methods.
Julian Ptachin was only 14 years old in October 1997 when a drunk driver smashed into his parents van. His Dad, a physician, had to hold Julian while he died on the side of the road. The drunk driver was a three-timed convicted, repeat offender. He was convicted of second-degree murder and was ordered to serve eight years in jail. Doesn’t something seem wrong with this picture? Repeat crime convicts are running down the streets rapid: endangering our children, our loved ones, and even us.
According to www.deathpenalityinfo.org, the first legal death penalty ever issued was on June 25, 1790 as a result of a murder Thomas Bird committed in Maine. Since then, the United States has executed a total of 340 people, 336 men, and 4 women. As of today, the death penalty is the highest form of capital punishment and is predominantly issued to violators of murder. People that have committed murder are arrested and put on trial. A recent example of a crime that may issue the death penalty is California's case against Scott Peterson. Scott Peterson was arrested for the murder of his wife who was pregnant with his child. He is currently on trial and awaiting a sentence of life in jail without parole, or the death penalty. It is up to a jury of six men and six women to determine his fate.
Should the death penalty be legal throughout the United States? Is it humane or inhumane? The death penalty is only legal in thirty eight of the fifty states in the United States. Lethal injection is also the main procedure that is used. It is the most common form of capital punishment in America. Death penalty by lethal injection should be legal in the United States; the process of lethal injection is better than the electric chair and is more humane.
Today American correction facilities experience a crisis of epic proportions. United States prisons and jails house inmates in record numbers with no relief. This situation leads many to suggest that overcrowding in prisons constitutes an important issue facing American correction reform today. One way to deal with overcrowded prisons is to enforce the death penalty. According to David Davis, infliction of the death penalty for certain secular crimes, such as murder and robbery, associates historically with the rise of the modern state (23). He also states, in England the death penalty was rationally defended as a means for protecting the king’s peace (23). Capital punishment dates back to 1787, where tactics were used such as decapitation, firing squads, and hangings. Just recently death penalties were carried out by means of electrocution and lethal injection. Enforcing capital punishment ensures a means of reducing recidivism for those who commit heinous crimes. Heinous crimes that consist of proven murders, terrorist situations, and rape deserve the death penalty. Increasing capital punishment promotes the reform of prisons by reducing recidivism, increasing deterrence, and decreasing prison population.
“When Michael Ryan was sentenced to death, We were sentenced to” (Kelle, a.n.d, par.2). Keeping him tied outside to a deck with no coat to freeze in the winter cold, disemboweling him with a shovel to shooting off each one of his fingers, James Thimm was tortured to death (Kelle,2009). We imagine that as each day went past the pain would weaken. But that wasn’t the case for Miriam Thimm Kelle and his family. Michael Ryan the killer of Jim, were sentenced to the death penalty but little did Miriam know he was also sentenced. For some 20 years Michael Ryan's execution was carried out through every appeal on and on. The pain that Kelle’s family inflicted was insufferable. As unfortunate as the occurrence was it is safe to say this continues to be the pain of many murder victims families. The death penalty provides nothing but pain for the victims family, the economy and the society.
The use of the death penalty in the United States has been a great debate for many years. One of the major aspects of this debate is whether or not we should continue to use this form of punishment for criminals. In my opinion, the death penalty should be abolished because it costs taxpayers much more than sending an inmate to prison and there is no factual evidence that it has any greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment.
Do you fear death? If you are given the death penalty, your life will be taken. It will be the end of everything. You will lose your family, friends, future, goals and everything that belongs to you. Death creates fear, and it is taboo to many people. Since many people are scared of death, they will not do anything that will cause them to get the death penalty. Many people believe that the death penalty is the only way to stop criminals who commit serious felonies. Cassell and Bedau state, “A Gallup poll in October 2012 states that 70 percent of Americans favor the death penalty while only 25 percent oppose it” (186). Although the death penalty violates human rights, in some ways it is beneficial because it removes serious criminals, frees them from a life in prison, and deters potential criminals.
Death Penalty is what they call capital punishment. It is a topic that hasn’t been resolved yet. There is a book on Death Penalty and it is called “The Gender Gap in Death Penalty Support. It’s an article on how we deal with the capital punishment issue. In the past years men have supported capital punishment more than women. The main key factors of which influence such a decision bases on five of these beliefs: Values differences and traditional gender socialization practices, traditional norms and roles, status differentials and gender inequalities. First, the authors look at two of the five basics such as values differences and traditional gender socialization practices. Second, they scan the traditional gender norms and roles. But on the other side murder is wrong, ungrateful to us, and we have been taught the indisputable truth. Ask yourself what is capital punishment. Look here is a brief definition on capital. Capital punishment means: one is taking another ones life. See there are 36 states with the Death Penalty Law and must use it. This must end before the new generations g...