...over Lethal Injection On January 16, 2014 an Ohio death row inmate was put to death by lethal injection with an untested drug. After being injected with the drug, the inmate quickly began to choke and gasp for air. This process which appeared to be painful and hard to watch continued for 25 minutes until Dennis McGuire was pronounced dead (Goode). This execution has renewed an old debate on whether this form of capital punishment violates the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution by way of cruel and unusual punishment. Although many people argue that this technique is the most humane form of execution, it has now reached uncharted territories with the use of untested drugs. In this paper I will argue that lethal injections should be brought to a close because of the ineffectiveness of the new and the old drugs being used, for the fact that executioners are inexperienced, and for the reason that untested drugs are used on inmates. Since lethal injection was first introduced to the United States back in 1977, there have been a total of 1176 inmates executed using this method (Death Penalty Statistics). The most common lethal injection procedure, developed by Dr. Jay Chapman, was at best a combination of three drugs: sodium thiopental (a barbiturate that also has anesthesia), pancuronium bromide (relaxes then paralyses the muscles in the body) and potassium chloride (this drug speeds up the heart until it stops) (Clancy, O’Brien 278). Many advocates believe that lethal injection...
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...and everywhere he is in chains.” The quote establishes that as a human, one is free however no one is completely free. Laws are established to set boundaries on freedom. A lethal injection however goes beyond setting limits. Jon Sorenson and Rocky LeAnn Pilgrim define Lethal Injection in “Lethal Injection: Capital Punishment in Texas During the Modern Era” as a “injection of a lethal dose of prussic acid [cyanide]” (Sorenson & Pilgrim 2). Lethal Injection precludes the possibility of freedom for a prisoner who is later acquitted for murder as said in the Fifth Amendment, “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in...
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...punishment in California since it was reinstated in 1973. In those years only thirteen individuals who were convicted of murder was killed by the capital punishment system. Two out the thirteen were killed by the gas chamber while the others were by lethal injection. Lethal injection came along in 1993 and was given as a choice for people sentenced to death but the year after it was made as the only way. Although lethal injection is a less painful way of being executed it’s still costing tax payers every year. The good thing about the death penalty is that it’s faster than it was when they used the gas chambers and even when they hung people. Studies show that a federal court in California found that the gas chamber was very cruel and unusual punishment so that’s what led to the lethal injection system. The Way the lethal injection system works is that they fill your body with different chemicals that end up destroying it so that leads to a short but semi painful death. Capital punishment in some cases can be what people really need because they either committed a bad crime or they did some very bad. Some of the bad things about the death penalty are that sometimes it could have been the wrong person that was executed. In those cases the people have been accused of a crime they haven’t...
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...of a human. Advocates of the death penalty believe that it is a deterrent, but evidence has proven otherwise; they also do not recognize the many faults tied up in the system. The death penalty should be abolished because the prisoners are treated inhumanely not only from living on death row, but from receiving a bad batch of lethal injection drugs. Many people do not realize the immense cost required for the execution of a single inmate and the discrimination {against African Americans} that lives in the courtroom. After being sentenced to execution, prisoners are sent to death row; a section located in in a prison that deprives them of their sanity. Death row is like solitary confinement; the inmates are isolated and confined to a cell the size of a bathroom for at least 22 hours a day. The prisoners are constantly subjected to atrocious conditions to the point that they are getting their human rights taken from them. The prisoners...
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...Abstract The essay outlines the arguments for abolishing the death penalty, also including any counter arguments that can be used for a use of the death penalty. The arguments made in this essay for death-penalty abolition are its devaluation of human life, eliminating of the possibility for revenge, its violation of human rights, as well as including the view of religious groups. This essay argues that all of these arguments address that human life cannot be taken away from a person, even if the person is a murder, simply because then the society is not being better than the murder him- or herself. I have investigated many research and scientific studies in order to back up my arguments as best as possible. Furthermore I have also investigated into the methods of death penalty, such as lethal injection. This essay views practice of capital punishment as an expression of anxiety about safety, in particular it counteracts the argument that death penalty would deter any future crime, and terrorist attacks. I also looked up numbers in order to show how costly death penalty is, in order to emphasize that there are more cheaper and less inhumane methods to sentence a murder. I also draw attention to countries that use death penalty as a way to eliminate any enemies, using it as a political weapon to silence any troublesome individuals. I suggest that every life is valuable, and that death penalty does not consider the risk of killing an innocent person, but rather emphasize that...
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...Electrocution is where you sit in a chair filled with wires attached to the ceiling where it leads to an electric machine. They hook a helmet to your head while pulling a switch which leads all the electricity from the machine through the wires to your head. After that the body is fried and disposed of to who knows where. Execution by gas is where they put you in a chamber,and unleash gas into it. The most common execution type in the world is lethal injection. Lethal injection is basically you inject a drug into the body of the person. The drug later stops the person’s ability to breathe,and the pumping of the heart. It’s a lot more civilized than it sounds,and a lot more civilized than those of the past where you crucified or stone. The United States is the only western industrialized country that still sees a use for capital punishment. Only 32 states in the country still use it,The other states chose that it was inhumane. Between 1967 and 1977 the entire country didn’t use capital punishment. Capital punishment can be traced back to the original 13 colonies. The colonies did capital punishment on those who had sexuality problems,and those who opposed the...
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...citizens oppose the death penalty? In today’s society the rate of crime, specifically those that involve crimes which can be tried as a capital punishment cases, continue to increase; domestic killings, predatory crimes against children and innocent victim crimes have all continued to rise; Meanwhile the public’s belief and support in our justice systems ultimate punishment continue to fall. The death penalty although looked at as cruel or inhumane by some, can be viewed as a necessary evil. Society as a whole must feel that our system of laws is protecting us. Locking up non-violent and common criminals and attempting to rehabilitate in order to join society is a continuing effort and with some success. However, most studies have found that an increasing number of prisoners today are repeat offenders with sentences for more violent crimes. A study recently done found that 56% of violent felons are repeat offenders and 61% of all felons are repeat offenders. The study also found that most are being punished outside the walls of prison due to their criminal past. After the inmate is released he’s sent back out to society and is viewed as a criminal still. With a criminal record, most employers feel once a criminal always a criminal. With nowhere else to go and no job most will turn back to a life of crime. Some, the study finds, commit crimes just to return to prison where they have a bed, a meal and an identity and are accepted by their peers. The execution of criminals...
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...Fighting Crime with Murder Introduction—two wrongs don’t make a right even though two negatives make a positive. I. What is death penalty? A. Methods of execution. B. The history of the death penalty. II. How do you got put on the death row “death penalty” A. What state uses what method? B. What states don’t use any method? III. What do the people think about the death penalty in the U.S.? A. Why are people for the death penalty? B. Why are people against the death penalty? Conclulusion-The death penalty isn’t the right way to go for punishment after a crime it just as worse as the person that committed the crime. Fighting Crime with Murder The death penalty is a common topic and one of the major’s topics today. This research paper as you can already see is about the death penalty and it will show and tell what it is, how it works also how it is wrong because, two wrongs do not make a right even though two negatives make positive. I have learned many of things about the death penalty more than what I expected to learn. I hope by you reading my research paper you will learn how the death penalty isn’t the right way to go just like abortions some people say abortions are right but not the death penalty or the other way around it does not make any sense they both are murdering someone. Yes, the person on the death penalty did something wrong to get there but like I said before two wrongs does not make a right. Make them suffer in the...
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...methods over the years have changed. The use of the electric chair was built in 1860 but began being used in 1890. The first execution by the electric chair was William Frances Kemmler who was convicted of murdering his lover (Part 1: History of the death penalty, 2015). This would be the method used for years to come. As the years progressed and laws changed so did the sentencing of crimes and the death penalty. The last person to date that was electrocuted in the electric chair was Robert Gleason on January 16th of 2013 (Daily mail, 2013). Robert Gleason wanted to be executed and told the corrections officers that he would continue to kill and hurt other inmates until the killed him. Other executions that were performed were by lethal injection. This was said to be less invasive and not as cruel. It was said to be quick and painless but when it was recently used to execute Clayton Lockett we were shown different. It was long, drawn out and...
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...abolished globally. It is an outdated, unfair and often inhumane punishment. In addition to the fact that many television shows and movies have been made about people wrongly convicted on death row, the whole “an eye for an eye” from the Bible is completely outdated. (BIBLE GATEWAY) Furthermore, there have been numerous incidences where prisoners who had been convicted and sentenced to death, while being administered the lethal injection or on the electric chair, did not actually die the first time around. Many who are convicted and sentenced to death row are mentally disabled, having an IQ of 70 or less. One reason the death penalty should be abolished is that the cost of the death penalty far outweighs the cost of incarcerating a prisoner for life. A study of Indiana death penalty trials concluded that relative costs of incarceration with the addition of a death penalty sentence and direct appeal rose 38%. (JANEWAY) And a report by the Comptroller of the Treasury for the State of Tennessee concluded that when prosecutors sought the death penalty in murder cases, the average cost of the trial rose 48%. (MORGAN) Many states are finding that with rising budget costs and deficits it is better to abolish the death penalty than to sink further into debt. (BISSONNETTE) Another reason the death penalty should be abolished is that is an inhuman practice that is outdated. The old adage, “an eye for an eye”, no longer applies in the modern world. In addition to being isolated on death...
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...Is the Death Penalty Unethical? 18 March 2014 Kyle Parks Mr. Bagley Accounting 1 18 March 2014 According to an Ohio State University study, "As many as 10,000 inmates are wrongfully convicted of serious crimes each year" (Spring). Some of these convictions result in sentences of the harshest possible punishment in the United States, the death penalty. This means that in this country that claims to be equal and free, a person can still be killed for a crime he/she did not commit. On top of this, it is both highly immoral and costly to execute criminals on death row. For these reasons, the death penalty is unethical and should be discontinued in the United States. The Bible states in multiple places that humans are forbidden to kill other humans. Matthew 5:21 says, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment"("Shall Not Murder"). The Bible simply states that, as humans, one does not have the right to kill another human. There is no fine print saying whether it is right or wrong to kill someone after one has committed a crime. Humans have just been taking this matter into their own hands. God also states in the Ten Commandments that one shall not murder. In Mark 10:19, Jesus says, "You know the commandments: You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false...
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...Austin Day Criminal Justice 1010 Capital Punishment: Execution by the State 12/8/2011 History of the Death Penalty The first death penalty laws date back to the Eighteenth Century B.C. The death penalty was punishable for 25 different crimes. The death penalty also dates back to the Fourteenth Century when it was punishable for any kind of crimes. In the Fifth Century, death sentences were administered by ways such as drowning, beating to death, burning alive or even crucifixion and in the Tenth Century A.D. hangings became the main method of execution. During the Sixteenth Century, under the power of Henry VIII, 72,000 people were executed by boiling, hanging, beheading, and boiling. People were executed if they had failed to report a crime or committed treason. During the 1700s, even small crimes were punished by death. These crimes included stealing or even cutting down a tree. A total of 222 crimes were punishable by death (“Part I: History of the Death Penalty”). Capital punishment in America was heavily influenced by Britain. When settlers came to the new world, they brought the form of capital punishment with them. Captain George Kendall was the first recorded execution in the United States for being accused of being a spy for Spain. This occurred in 1608, while in 1612 the Divine, Moral and Martial Laws were created, allowing capital punishment to be enforced for the smallest of crimes such as trading with Indians. The death penalty varied from colony to...
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...penalty for everybody. A person who stole from a store, is definitely not a deserving person for the death penalty, But, a serial killer, who kills people just because he wants to, definitely deserves to be removed from society. The death penalty should be pursued in the United States in order to eliminate horrible people from the world. Not everyone deserves to die, but some people do. If someone killed one of your family members or someone who meant the world to you, do you think they deserve to live? The 5 different forms of execution in the united states are Lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, firing squad, and hanging. Lethal injection is the most common. A lot of people see both sides of the death penalty and some people are unsure on how they think about it. Many people support the death penalty, while others wish for the death penalty to be abolished,...
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...Penalty Since the creation of humans, crime has been prevalent in our history. The most heinous crime a human could commit is and will always be murder. For a long time, the death penalty was the go-to punishment for murder. Recent research and studies have concluded that the death penalty is cruel and ineffective. The death penalty is ineffective in many because ways there have been many cases of wrongful convictions. It does not lower crime, and it is way too costly. The death penalty is morally wrong “an eye for an eye makes the world blind.” The government cannot succumb to the same level of murderers. By killing those that murder, we become the same thing we fear, murderers. Furthermore, there is a chance that someone may be convicted wrongly and executed by the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, “Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions.” There are many factors that can lead to a false conviction, including inadequate legal representation, perjured testimony and mistaken eyewitness testimony, suppression and/or misinterpretation of mitigating evidence, and political pressure to solve a case (Amnesty International). One such case where there was a false conviction was that of Daniel Wade Moore in Alabama. Moore was originally found guilty for murder and sexual assault of Karen Tipton in 2002, and he was sentenced to death by the judge. However, he was acquitted in 2009...
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...* Quality of life - only the patient is really aware of what it is like to experience intractable (persistent, unstoppable) suffering; even with pain relievers. Those who have not experienced it cannot fully appreciate what effect it has on quality of life. Apart from physical pain, overcoming the emotional pain of losing independence is an additional factor that only the patient comprehends fully. * Dignity - every individual should be given the ability to die with dignity. Prolongation of dying - if the dying process is unpleasant, the patient should have the right to reduce this unpleasantness. In medicine, the prolongation of living may sometimes turn into the prolongation of dying. Put simply - why should be patient be forced to experience a slow death? Most physicians have received one or more requests to help a patient end his or her life prematurely. This module focuses on the skills that the physician can use to respond both compassionately and with confidence to a request, not on the merits of arguments for or against legalizing physician-assisted suicide (PAS) or euthanasia, but using solid clinical skills. To respond effectively, physicians must know the reasons why patients ask for assistance. Depression, psychosocial factors, and anticipated distress are common reasons, but current physical suffering can also be a factor. Physicians need to be able to assess the root causes of the specific request, make a commitment to the patient’s care, address each...
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