...for the lethal injection in hopes that it will prevent anymore “botched executions”. They say even with these new procedures, things can still go wrong; problems can still arise. The execution of Angel Diaz is what led to the chamber’s closing. They say it took him twice the normal amount of time to die and he appeared to suffer a great deal because it turns out that no medically trained professional had been there to administer the drugs. Should this one epic fail determine whether or not capital punishment continues to be used in this country? I am going to have to say no. There is a reason why we chose to have the death penalty in the first place, because some crimes that are committed are just too horrible and deserve severe punishment. It is true that what happened to Angel Diaz was a horrible mistake but I was not aware that when attempting to kill someone for crimes committed that we were suppose to make them as comfortable as possible? That whole thing seems a bit hypocritical to me. This may seem harsh but if someone is sentenced to death then obviously the things they have done to land them there make them deserving of their punishment but not pity. One big reason that the death penalty is not supported is that it is seen as barbaric. People say that it violates the “cruel and unusual” clause in the Bill of Rights. The 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents the use of any “cruel or unusual” punishment but I wouldn’t say today method of lethal injection...
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...first-degree, premeditated murder. There are different forms of execution that are used today: Lethal Injection, gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, and the firing squad. Today, (USDOJ, 2010) Hanging is the oldest method of execution in the United States, and was replaced by electrocution as the most common method. There have been only 3 executions by hanging since 1977: Westley Dodd (WA, 1993), Charles Campbell (WA, 1994), and Billy Bailey (DE, 1998). “The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also part of the Fourteenth Century B.C.'s Hittite Code; in the Seventh Century B.C.'s Draconian Code of Athens, which made death the only punishment for all crimes; and in the Fifth Century B.C.'s Roman law of the Twelve Tablets. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement.” http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty During the 1960’s, there was challenges regarding whether or not the death penalty was legal. Many believed that under the Eighth Amendment, this was considered to be “cruel and unusual punishment. Oklahoma became the first state to authorize lethal injection - currently the most common form of execution. Texas believed that lethal...
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...As reported in USA Today, Porter's release was the result of investigative research as conducted by a Northwestern University professor and students. The evidence gathered suggested that Porter had been wrongly convicted. Were these new revelations and the subsequent release of Porter a lucky break or a freak occurrence? Not likely, reports DeWayne Wickham, also of USA Today. He points out that since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States in 1976, of those sentenced to death, 490 people have been executed while 76 have been freed from Death Row. This calculates into one innocent person being released from Death Row for every six individuals that were executed. This figure correlates with the 1996 U.S. Department of Justice report that indicates that over a 7-year period, beginning in 1989, when DNA evidence in various cases was tested, 26% of primary suspects were exonerated. This has led some to conclude that a similar percentage of inmates presently serving time behind bars may have been wrongly convicted prior to the advent of forensic DNA typing. Whitehead 2 Amnesty International, in its 1998 report Fatal Flaws: Innocence and the Death Penalty, supports the American Bar Association's call for a death penalty...
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...the statement that Capital Punishment should very well be abolished. Throughout its lifetime, Capital punishment has seemed, in many cases to be the most sane and respectable thing to condemn on a person, deserving of such direct discipline. For example, a case held in 1977 that had eventually resulted in the accused's death, was the case of Coker v. Georgia, an alleged murderer, and rapist. In 1974, he was given several sentences on murder, rape and assault charges. He then 3 years into his sentence, escaped Georgia prison, and after breaking into the home of Allen and Elnita Carver, raped Elnita, and stole the family’s vehicle. Cover was convicted of rape, armed robbery, and other offenses, and in June of 1977, was put to death via lethal injection. It was spread over a total span of 4 months and 1 day, and it became the backbone of many cases, like the 2007 Kennedy v. Louisiana case. This case, like the majority of others similar to it, is one people would have a hard time disagreeing with, and most definitely puts...
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...killing the person we should lock them up behind bars, where they are away from the general population. Offer the person counseling so that they can become a healthier person both mentally and spiritually. To just kill someone for their actions does not solve anything. When we kill for justice, the only thing that separates us from the criminal is the reason why we are killing. A death for a death does not help any situation. The victim will not be brought back to life, the only thing that happens is that two families are greatly affected. Two wrongs do not make a right, the death penalty should be abolished from the laws of our country. In the Old Testament there are many references to capital punishment. The Mosaic Law set numerous offenses that were punishable by death. In Exodus 21, God commanded capital punishment for murderers. The consequences were harsh to prevent people from doing wrong. On the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is calling us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. The New Testament reverses the old ways of thought. An early Christian writer St. Clement of Rome spoke heavily against capital punishment. He said that "to witness a man's execution, regardless of the justice of his prosecution, is forbidden by the moral law of Christ." A man maybe dangerous and even a threat to the community, but there is no reason for death. Penitentiary systems, allow...
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...for long been a component of the government. In American history, there have been numerous methods of capital punishment. Everything from electrocution, hanging, firing squad to beheading, and even gas chambers. Capital punishment has always been a brutal and unnatural thing. Luckily, lethal injection is what most states use today. They have done since post-Gregg (Gregg v. Georgia), but electrocution, gas chambers and hanging are still practiced as well. One large motive for supporting capital punishment is economy. It is much cheaper to have someone executed than having him or her imprisoned. This is, though, extraordinarily inhuman. What about the family and friends of the executed? This is where the ethical aspect begins to play a role. The government needs to think about whether this should be accepted as being ethically correct. Because of the ethical aspects, capital punishment is one of the few massively discussed subjects in American politics. In the southern states, especially in Texas, death penalty has been the most evident. 522 people – 6 of them women – have been executed in Texas. This makes Texas the state where most inmates have been executed. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is in charge of the executions in the state, and is also housing death row prisoners. 70% of the population in Texas are in favor of capital punishment....
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...The records and statistics say that there has been no downward spiral on the murders happening. So how is capital punishment going to serve the society? Punishment should be a means of and rehabilitation and not retribution. 3. Capital punishment is hypocritical It sounds incredibly bizarre that a justice system would resort to killing to denounce the crime of murder! By means of capital punishment we are proving the point that a person’s life can be controlled by someone else. No one’s life should be in the hands of others, even a hardened criminal. 4. Capital punishment is always cruel In the US there is 5 ways of putting a criminal to sleep: lethal injection, electrocution, gassing, hanging and firing squad. It is said that all these 5 means of execution are painless but how can there be a proof for it? Has a criminal executed come back to life and said: “oh! It was so painless and peaceful”? All these 5 means of execution sound cruel just by feel. 5. Prison is hell on earth We have all heard and read about the fact that prison is not cool. Were it being a happening...
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...Death Penalty and Lethal Injection CRJ 412 Research Methods in Criminal Justice The death penalty has been in practice prior to America being discovered. Executing of an offender has been a popular method of punishment in past history for numerous different crimes. Some of the crimes that could result in execution were stealing, treason, rape and murder. Lynching, hanging, burning, firing squad, lethal gas, electrocution and lethal injection are just some methods of execution that have been used to carry out a death sentence. Some of the past executions have been held in the public so everyone could watch. There have been cases brought against the methods of execution therefore violating the Eighth Amendment, of cruel or unusual inflicted punishment. Lethal injection as a method of execution can be viewed as cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. There has been and always will be debates about the death penalty if it is fair or cruel and unusual punishment. Also, there are always going to be debates and Supreme Court Cases held to see if the methods of execution of the death penalty violate human beings’ rights. One early case, State of Louisiana ex rel. Francis v Resweber (1947) ruled that it was not cruel or unusual punishment to send a man to be electrocuted after he had already been placed in the chair, but had not died due to mechanical fault (Harrison & Melville, 2007). The Supreme...
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...to be a deterrent to keep people from committing criminal behavior. As you will see with the unusually high number of death row inmates in Oklahoma this is not true. Have our criminals become Guinea pigs for our Justice System to try different methods of execution? Our botched police investigations, and fight for political power have left many questions raised for the number of executed inmates in Oklahoma. We fail to realize all too often that these criminals have rights also. Criminals have a right to a fair trial and a right for the government not to force cruel and unusual punishment on them. The original death penalty law in Oklahoma called for executions to be carried out by electrocution. In 1972, the Supreme Court struck down all existing death penalty statutes. In Furman v. Georgia, the Court ruled that the death penalty as administered was cruel and unusual punishment. Oklahoma rewrote their death penalty statutes to remedy the Supreme Courts concern. The Oklahoma Legislature implemented the current death penalty law in 1977. The method to carry out the execution is by lethal injection. The last execution to be carried out by electrocution was in 1966. Oklahoma has executed a total of 191 men and 3 women between 1915 and 2014. The first execution by lethal injection in Oklahoma occurred on September 10, 1990. Our death row inmates are housed at McAlester Penitentiary also known as “The Wall.” Oklahoma is ranked number one in executions out of the 32 states that still...
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...| Death at Midnight: Confessions of an Executioner | Book Project | | | | | The book Death at Midnight the Confession of an Executioner is an autobiography by Donald A. Cabana. The story is about the life of a college graduate who rose to the position of warden at Parchman. At the beginning of his career in criminal justice, Cabana quickly learned the harsh reality of his occupation. Cabana experienced confrontations with both workers and convicts. Cabana's honest and forward-thinking approach to law enforcement caused him to be temporarily fired from his job at Parchman. Cabana returned years later as warden and was finally able to make the necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, the death penalty had once again gained legality a short time before Cabana's rise to power. As warden, Cabana was forced to execute two men. Cabana, uncomfortable with the idea of sentencing young men to death, began to question his beliefs on the criminal justice system. After the execution of Cabana's friend Connie Ray Evans, Donald Cabana retired from the position of warden. Donald Cabana now spends his time teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi. In the book, Cabana mentions frequently the corruption of politics. A prime example of such corruption in the penal system is when Warden John Collier leaves Parchment. The next warden, a good one, had to quit because he refused to do what the politicians wanted him to do. Another example is when Cabana explains the history...
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...THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY The Supreme Court of the United States has the authority to decide whether state statutes conflict with the provisions of the Constitution and the Court’s prior interpretations of those provisions. This power of judicial review has given the Supreme Court the crucial responsibility to assure individual rights, as well as to maintain a “living Constitution” whose broad provisions are continually reviewed and applied to complicated new situations. Since Justices are appointed for life, when the Supreme Court rules on an issue involving the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, that judgment is final unless altered by a constitutional amendment or the Court’s subsequent ruling (Booklet). The Court decides whether specific state statutes are applied rightly or whether a person’s Constitutional rights have been violated. The Constitutionality of the death penalty in the United States has been decided by the Justices of the Supreme Court based on cases appealed from different states. The people who founded the United States came from England and European countries where there had always been a death penalty. This does not mean there are no reasons for states to abolish the death penalty; just that it is currently legal for the states to have this punishment. The present controversy started when the Supreme Court decided in Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972), that imposition and carrying out of the death penalty in the...
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...people. Some argue that murderers should be executed and pay for the crimes they’ve committed while others believe life imprisonment is suffice. The Catholic Church condemns this type of punishment but those who have been victimized are crying for justice. Another argument is that the methods used for capital punishment is against the Eight Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. My intentions for this paper are to present and analyze both sides of the argument. Is the death penalty immoral or is it immoral not to impose it? Introduction Capital punishment, also known as the death, has been one of the most controversial issue currently still under fire about its morality. Many believe it is both unethical and morally wrong for the government to take one’s life while others believe capital punishment is right and is needed to the deterrence of crime. This is a very controversial issue and brings up many different points of views from many different people. Some argue that murderers should be executed and pay for the crimes they’ve committed while others believe life imprisonment is suffice. The Catholic Church condemns this type of punishment but those who have been victimized, including their families, are crying for justice to be served. Another argument is that the methods used for capital punishment is against the Eight Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Is the death penalty immoral or is it immoral not to impose it? This paper will present and analyze both sides...
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...Mixing Law and Medicine: A Lethal Combination Abstract “First do no harm” is the foundations that medical practices are based on, but there times in which the lines are blurred and physicians must question their ethical, legal and moral participation in procedures. Physician participation in executions of convicted criminals is explored in this paper. The history of the death penalty, including the early involvement of physicians is surveyed. The pros and cons as well of the legal and ethical grounds for medical professionals are weighed ultimately present the necessity for qualified medical professionals to carry out state sanctioned executions regardless of one’s position on the death penalty. Outline I. Introduction a. Thesis- Even though physician’s participation in the implementation of court ordered executions are in direct violation of the fundamental directive of the Physician’s Code of Ethics, “First, do no harm…,” it is a necessary product of the practice to ensure a “good death” for the convicted. II. History and Development of Capital Punishment a. Primitive Forms b. Physician Involvement in capital punishment progression c. Federal Government Intervention d. Current participation state statistics III. Medical Code of Ethics History IV. American Medical Association (AMA) a. AMA stance b. Acceptable actions c. Unacceptable actions V. The Physician’s Argument a. Same motivations- different point of view VI. Other Ethical...
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...Is capital punishment to violent and inhuman to think of? Do you believe that capital punishment should be abolished without question? Should a man or woman not receive the same punishment as they committed? Is it better to kill a person or allow them to sit in prison for there whole life? What do you think is right, what do you think America needs to do about capital punishment? Capital punishment dates back to the eighteenth century B.C. in the code of King Hammurabi of Babylon. At this time only twenty five crimes were punishable by death. These crimes were carried out by crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive and impalement. As you can tell capital punishment has been around for a long, long time and probably not going anywhere (DPIC). Do you know when the first form of capital punishment was performed on North American soil? The first execution in the colonies was that of Captain George Kendall. The execution took place in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608. Captain Kendall was executed for being a spy for Spain. From there on out, capital punishment continued throughout the colonies. The crimes punishable by death varied for colony to colony (DPIC). Today, there are around fifty countries that still use the death penalty. One of these countries is the United States of America. The United States has condemned over a ten thousand people to the death penalty since its beginning. Should the United States continue with the death penalty or should it...
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...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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