Death Penalty: The United States Criminal Justice System
Capital punishment, otherwise known as the death penalty, is a humane form of execution legally used on a person convicted of a capital crime such as murder, or treason. To some, capital punishment is justice, providing closure for the loss of a loved one. With others, however, it is just more senseless violence slowly tearing people apart. Due to its dark history, the ruthless discrimination it causes, and the major conflicts that it has created, capital punishment is considered to be one of the most controversial components of the United States Criminal Justice System. The United States death penalty originated from European settlement in the colonies. It has come a long way, from the first-ever recorded U.S. execution, to the abolitionist …show more content…
During the sixteenth Century in Britain, crimes such as marrying a Jew, or denying the “one true God” were punishable by death (“History”). Considering the fact that Britain was predominantly Christian during this time, there was little to no religious tolerance. Crucifixion was one of the most used forms of execution at this time. In the United States, while some states were abolishing capital punishment, some were making new death laws exclusively for slaves (“Death Penalty”). Since the vast majority of slaves in the U.S. were African American, these new laws discriminated against them exclusively. The colonies also attempted to limit the number of foreign interactions by making trading with Indians illegal. These new corrupted laws were the main cause of unjust bias in the Criminal Justice …show more content…
The rate of executions has drastically dropped since then (“Death Penalty”). Thanks to the Eighth Amendment, and more equal representation in the legal system, the rate of unlawful executions has receded. The highest number of executions was ninety-eight in 1999. Currently, only thirty-one states in the U.S. still use Capital Punishment (“Some Examples”). Oklahoma is included among those thirty-eight remaining states that still use the death penalty. Lethal injection is now the only means of execution in the United States. Although the death penalty is still flawed, and a sensitive topic to some, it has greatly improved since its start in colonial
Abolishing The Death Penalty In Colonial America
1741 Words | 7 PagesThe death penalty goes far back into history, across many different civilizations, and many different cultures. It has been around since the beginnings of colonial America, and was very different compared to todays standards. “In colonial America, criminals
Lethal Injection: A Constitutional Violation Of The 8th Amendment
832 Words | 4 PagesAccording to this article, to name a few, through history, it started from hangings in 1879, then electrocution by chair in 1890, until it reached lethal injection in 2008 where it deemed more humane. Several opinions were added in order to conduct an alternative method that would have a little to no chance in violating the 8th amendment. Officials can act unconstitutionally if they were to execute a condemned person in a procedure that intentionally makes it painful or in another way where they did not care whether it actually was. Due to this, this mostly continued to set an outer limit on how the death penalty can be carried out and since the court was unable to gather an actual majority to decipher the limit more
Abolishing The Death Penalty: Furman V. Georgia
796 Words | 4 PagesCapital Punishment, or the death penalty, has gone back and forth between Supreme Court cases for years (Death Penalty). Since 1972, with the case Furman v. Georgia, the legality of the death penalty has been challenged, along with it’s principality and methods. The first recorded use of death as a punishment in America was in 1608 (Reggio), George Kendall of Virginia was executed under the belief that he would betray the British Empire to the Spanish, and the first legal execution occurred in 1622, when Daniel Frank of Virginia was put to death for thievery. Historically, the death penalty was inflicted under crimes like theft, murder, perjury, adultery, rape and statutory rape, buggery and beastiality, arson, blasphemy, and the Duke’s
Decapitation For Hanging In America
154 Words | 1 PagesHanging was the main method of execution in America until the electric chair was invented in 1890. Then came gas chambers and lethal injection in the 1920s and 1970s respectively. There were downsides to all of these methods of execution including decapitation for hanging, heads catching on fire with the electric chair, and expenses for lethal injection. The Supreme Court halted all executions for four years in 1972 because of an abolitionist group protesting possibly discriminatory convictions. After this, lethal injection was invented and adopted by many U.S. states.
The Death Penalty In Texas
81 Words | 1 PagesSome see the death penalty as the only means to extract justice for victims. Others see it as a morally reprehensible act where a second wrong is committed in order to make something right. With recent issues surrounding the death penalty in which execution hasn 't gone as planned sparking a nationwide debate, this is my outlook on why I 'm for the death penalty not only being abolished in the state of Texas but in addition to the entirety of the US..
8th Amendment Essay
1008 Words | 5 PagesThe 8th Amendment of the Constitution states that no one should receive any "cruel and unusual punishments" for the crimes they have commited. The death penalty is a violation of the 8th amendment, and should be banished from the USA as it is an unreasonable and extreme punishment that is unnecessary and avoidable. The death penalty is inhumane, irreversible, and much more expensive compared to a non-death penalty case. Currently, 27 states are still using the death penalty and many of these states are either Midwest or South. Methods such as lethal injection, electric chair, hanging, gas chambers, and firing squad are used to execute these inmates.
Death Penalty In Texas
125 Words | 1 PagesThe Effectiveness of the Death Penalty in Texas The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in America today due to its turbulent nature. Capital punishment is highly debated and it encompasses a plethora of ethical, religious, political, and legal issues. Texas is one of the thirty-eight states in the nation that practices this form of punishment. (Naidoff, Caitlin)
Abolish The Death Penalty In Texas
760 Words | 4 PagesThe death penalty is a precedent set centuries ago as a method of punishment for severe crimes. In 1923, the state of Texas declared that those sentenced to death were to suffer through the electric chair by the hands of the state, instead of being hanged by the hands of the counties (TX Executions). Later on, Texas would adopt the lethal injection method. Many see the death penalty as an inhumane violation of the basic rights defined in the Bill of Rights. On the other hand, others may argue that it is unpractical to abolish the death penalty due to the voidance of justice.
Texas Death Penalty
997 Words | 4 PagesEver since the outset of the American Constitution, capital punishment has existed as a crime sentence in the United States. However, in recent decades, this topic has become highly controversial, as many states have dictated against the death penalty. Although states with this position on capital punishment are increasing, some states, such as Texas, have continued to edict this practice in their provinces. In the State of Texas, the sentence to death upon a person should not be permitted due to the fact it can wrongly convict a person, its court trial is highly expensive, and it brings forth an unjust treatment.
Essay On Texas Death Penalty
950 Words | 4 PagesAmnesty International announced that in all 34 states continue to allow the death penalty as punishment for hinges crimes. America is the fifth highest number of prisoners in the world and 13 out of 43 executions took place in
Argumentative Essay: Texas Death Penalty In The United States
932 Words | 4 PagesThe death penalty is a controversial issue that has been debated in the United States for a long period of time. In our own state of Texas, executing convicted criminals has become second nature. This is due to the fact that Texas has executed more people than any other state in the United States since 1976. So why does Texas lead the United States in executions? There are many reasons and factors that has led to this point.
John Stuart Mill's Arguments Against The Death Penalty
900 Words | 4 PagesThe Assault on a Biblical Text” By Wilma A. Bailey it mentions that for many centuries there was an attempt to understand the true meaning of the commandment “do not kill” on the topic of the death penalty. Barry Cytron gives three points that are used in Judaism to support the death penalty. The first example Cytron brings in is that “moral order demands it” (death penalty). The second example Cytron brings in is the “life for a life” statement and the third example Cytron brings in is that it restores balance (“You Shall Not Kill or You Shall Not Murder? The Assault on a Biblical Text”, Wilma A.
Should The Death Penalty Be Illegal Essay
1267 Words | 6 PagesThe Death Penalty, loss of life due to previous crimes and actions, is believed by some to be extremely costly, inhumane, and cruel unlike some others whom believe it is just, right, and provides closure. The Death Penalty is not a quick and easy process. Most who get sentenced to deaths row wait years for their ultimate punishment of death. Some believe that it is not right to punish and kill a human for actions they have done because, they believe that the inmate should have another chance. Then others believe that it is right to punish someone for their actions especially if their actions involve killing another or multiple humans.
Pro Death Penalty Essay
1342 Words | 6 PagesCapital punishment also known as the death penalty is the execution of a murderer. You have at least be convicted of first degree murder, which is the voluntary and premeditated murder of an individual; or second degree murder, which is a murder committed with intent but without deliberation. Death row is an area of a prison where criminals convicted of crimes warranting the death penalty await execution, it may be years before they are actually executed.(Issitt) Capital punishment has been used in society since ancient times. It is a controversial topic because on one hand supporters of the death penalty believe that it is only fair, if a criminal takes someone else’s life they deserve the same fate as their victim or victims.
Pro Death Penalty Essay
588 Words | 3 PagesMany people believed that the death penalty will soon be abolished from all national court and prison systems. Nevertheless, the death penalty has been gaining additional opposition from numerous states in the past decade. As of November 9,2016, 31 states are currently utilizing the death penalty, whilst 19 states have abolished and overturn it, and 4 other states have Gubernatorial Moratoria” ("Death Penalty Information Center"). A great deal of states are not longer utilizing the death penalty. There are various reasons for this, some of which include; the
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