Imagine being locked in a six by eight foot confinement for years, surrounded by but only cement walls, not being in any sort of human contact. This is deathrow. Anthony Charles Graves, 138th exonerated death row inmate, was wrongfully arrested at the age of twenty-six with no record of violence. Graves spent eighteen years of his life until he was finally released in 2010. “I saw guys come to prison sane and leave this world insane, talking nonsense on the execution gurney” (Anthony Graves). Thirty-one states out of fifty states (62%) condone capital punishment. According to David B. Muhlhausen, Ph.D in crime and justice, Americans actually have supported the death penalty two to one ratio. Capital Punishment, also known as the death penalty, has been around in the United States since the colonial era. It’s when a person is executed by the the state as a punishment for their crimes. Executions are usually carried out by lethal injection, however, electrocution, hanging, gas inhalation and firing squads are various ways of killing an incarcerated being. However, legal procedures must be abided by before an execution, such as formal arrest, indictment, and a trial. The …show more content…
Even going so far to say that there is a “strong correlation” between executions and crime rates; however, the ACLU refutes this statement by claiming, “The murder rate in states with the death penalty is 4.7, while the murder rate drops to 3.1 in states without the death penalty.” In addition, the psychological mindset of a criminal is not able to comprehend the consequences at the time of a crime. Majority of crimes are done with passion, involving intense emotions and adrenaline. Experts suggest that “the murder rate is most closely associated with the socio economic health of the country,” meaning that murder rate is not lowered by having the death