U.S. News and World Report LP, 29 Sept. 2014. Mr. Lees lawyers also disregarded the cost to victims families of continued delay. Cruel and Unusual. New Yorker. Capital punishment has been a part of American society since before the constitution, however in todays' climate it has become a much more contentious topic. The death penalty is far more expensive than a system in which life imprisonment without parole is the maximum sentence. A. Alabama 443. Concepts of retribu-tion, deterrence, and just punishment are discussed in the most . Introduction Death penalty has been an inalienable part of human society and its legal system for centuries, regarded as a necessary deterrent to dangerous crimes and a way to liberate the community from dangerous criminals. Four of the eight inmates were ultimately executed, while four received stays of execution. Please support our research with a financial contribution. As of January 2021, Black defendants accounted for 34.1 percent of all people executed in the United States since 1976 and over 40 percent of the country's death row population despite making up just over 13 percent of the general US population. What its about: This article is not directly for or against the death penalty in general; it instead points out the situations that lead to the high number of death penalty sentences and executions in Texas. Opponents counter that it is an immoral and costly practice that is particularly vulnerable to racial bias. This conclusion comes from careful state-by-state monitoring of maternal mortality, including deaths occurring at birth and around the time of birth. However, the nationwide execution rate began a slow but steady rise. In its last six months, the United States government has put 13 prisoners to death. It also carries the risk of carrying out a wrongful execution. Capital punishment should be distinguished from extrajudicial executions carried out without due process of law. (Deterrence) 2.73: 1.27: 2.71: 1.36: 0.16 I become angry when a convicted murderer does not receive the death penalty . The Center was founded in 1990 and prepares in-depth reports, issues press releases, conducts briefings for journalists, and serves as a resource to those working on this issue. How people can support the death penalty? Web. In Expedited Spree of Executions Faced Little Supreme Court Scrutiny, Adam Liptak writes about the recent federal executions: In 2015, a few months before he died, Justice Antonin Scalia said he would not be surprised if the Supreme Court did away with the death penalty. That process creates peace for the victims, their families, and society in general. Why its a good source: Again, this article could be used for either side of the argument. An execution was scheduled for later that day, and a sense of foreboding filled the air. Sophisticated studies at the state level show that the death penalty costs taxpayers more than life without parole. In the 1980s, the court ruled that the death penalty could not be applied to offenders under the age of sixteen or those deemed mentally incompetent. Is it morally wrong? In the article "Death penalty is a deterrence", the authors claims that by practicing the death penalty, violent crimes will decrease. The death penalty ensures that the individual involved will no longer be able to create havoc for the general population because they are no longer around. Among Republicans who oppose the death penalty, about half (53%) say this. On July 2, 1976, the Supreme Court handed down five decisions in cases that originated in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas, collectively referred to as the July 2 cases, or by the name of the lead case, Gregg v. Georgia. After America's Most Wanted aired a pro-gram about him, McDuff was arrested in 1992, convicted, and given two death sentences. 14 Jan. 2015. Through the Crimes Act of 1790, also referred to as the Federal Criminal Code of 1790, lawmakers of the newly independent United States granted federal judges the authority to impose the death sentence. 83 Capital Punishment Essay Topics & Examples. Rather than forthrightly opposing the death penalty and attempting to change the law through democratic means, however, Mr. Lees lawyers and others have chosen the legal and public-relations equivalent of guerrilla war. Adults ages 50 to 64 are most supportive of the death penalty, with 69% in favor. (See Death penalty draws more Americans support online than in telephone surveys for more on long-term measures and the challenge of comparing views across different survey modes.). The shortage resulted in the postponement of several scheduled executions. Overall, White adults are more likely to favor the death penalty than Black or Hispanic adults, while White and Asian American adults are equally likely to favor the death penalty. In a pro death penalty article, the author . It also means using articles from both points of view. A third faction also exists that is indecisive and therefore . Read the overview below to gain an understanding of the issues surrounding the death penalty and explore the previews of additional articles highlighting diverse perspectives. Now that weve covered what to look for in those death penalty articles, lets get to some more concrete examples. Why its a good source: The article uses findings from a variety of sources to support its claim of capital punishment leading to lower homicide rates. There are substantial demographic differences in views of whether death sentencing is applied fairly across racial groups. Scheidegger is a California lawyer who is a staunch pro-death penalty supporter. The Supreme Court has held the death penalty to be constitutional. The term death penalty is sometimes used interchangeably with capital . If there is even a small possibility of putting an innocent person to death, we should abstain from the . Tell us about it. Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning. There are wide ideological differences within both parties on this issue. At sentencing hearings, the prosecution and the defense present information about the defendant's character and background; they also submit arguments for either stern or merciful treatment. The court ruled that mandatory capital punishment laws were too rigid. However, Gibson does give some figures in support of using the death penalty over life in prison because, he notes, life in prison does not truly separate the criminal from society due to gang connections both in and out of prison. This means checking out sources from different states and different sides of the political spectrum. Due in part to rising jury nullifications, which effectively allowed guilty criminals to be set free, state legislatures began to pass laws in 1838 that rejected mandatory application of the death penalty in favor of jury discretion in sentencing. It can also be used as an important negotiating tool for the police and the justice system, as where the possible sentence is death, the prisoner . In 2017 officials in Arkansas came under criticism for expediting the schedule of eight executions by lethal injection before the state's supply of available drugs reached its expiration date. The Economist Newspaper Limited, 26 Apr. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. In cases handled in states that have abolished capital punishment, the federal judge can designate a death-penalty state to carry out the execution. Yet the death penalty for people convicted of murder continues to draw support from a majority of Americans despite widespread doubts about its administration, fairness and whether it deters serious crimes. It is a very complex issue, and context on the crime is essential. Why or why not. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. What its about: This article begins with a case of a man who was sentenced to the death penalty, giving the details of the two first-degree murders he committed. But Democrats are divided over whether the death penalty is morally justified. Over the past two years, the share of Republicans who say they favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder has decreased slightly by 7 percentage points while the share of Democrats who say this is essentially unchanged (46% today vs. 49% in 2019). Table of Contents. CON Opponents who argue that the death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes state that there is no evidence to support the claim that the penalty is a deterrent. The article lists his responses to common arguments from those opposed to the death penalty, such as the racial biases and whether the death penalty actually deters criminals. Illegal Immigration. By the early 1900s, most states had adopted laws that allowed juries to apply either the death penalty or a sentence of life in prison. Psst 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Black: 40.9%. The death penalty has been abolished in 22 states and 106 countries, yet it is still legal at the federal level in the United States. The decision required states to develop consistent legal standards for capital punishment to ensure that sentences matched the severity of offenses and did not cause undue pain and suffering. DPIC is a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. After reviewing the matter, the court granted the governments request, rebuked the District Court for creating an unjustified last-minute barrier, and directed that the execution could proceed. This doesnt always mean that you have to get an article from a well-known news website or national newspaper, but that the article should be backed up with cited facts. As a result, survey results from recent online surveys are not directly comparable with past years telephone survey trends. For federal offenses, the government uses the methods of execution authorized by the state in which the court imposes the punishment. However, later on this type of punishment came to be regarded as a . However, White Democrats are less likely to favor the death penalty than Black, Hispanic or Asian Democrats. The death penalty provides immeasurable public benefit by discouraging people from committing capital offenses. Even if you have a firm opinion, you need to understand the other arguments out there so you can counter them. the death penalty given an alternative of life without parole, support decreases significantly.7 In 1991, Gallup found that 76% of Americans supported the death penalty, but that support would drop to 53% if life imprisonment without parole were available as an alternative.8 While most deterrence research has found that the death penalty About eight-in-ten White Republicans favor the death penalty, as do about seven-in-ten Hispanic Republicans (69%). Anyone can read what you share. Further, many states did not carry out executions despite having legal authority to impose the death penalty. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. The rulings followed the appointment of five members of the conservative Federalist Society to the court in under a year. The government is granted the authority to execute a person if certain conditionssuch as arrest, indictment, and trialhave been met. How so? The two other liberals Justices Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were undoubtedly sympathetic. Choose your death penalty articles from a variety of sources. Despite this surge in federal executions in 2020, state executions reached their lowest number that year since 1991. Two months after these executions, on March 24, 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill passed by the Democratic-majority state legislature that abolished the death penalty in the state. Improperly trained defense lawyers, racial discrimination by juries, judges that dont follow protocol, and rushed post-conviction procedures are all cited as reasons for so many executions. About half of those ages 18 to 29 (51%) favor the death penalty, compared with about six-in-ten adults ages 30 to 49 (58%) and those 65 and older (60%). Let's do a break down on ALL races that received a death sentence since 1977. Also, check with your teacher to see if you should be using a different type of citation style in your paper (such as APA or Chicago). A total of sixteen executions were carried out in the United States in 1989. Students, read the entire article, then tell us: Do you support the use of capital punishment? In your opinion, should pharmaceutical companies have the right to refuse to sell drugs for executions? It is important to make the distinction between the two ideas. This created a problem for juries that found a defendant guilty but did not believe the offense warranted a sentence of death. Why its a good source: This article takes a different approach than most other pro-death sentence articles. You have probably had to write about a fair share of boring essay topics, but this time, youve been dealt a topic that you think is completely played outthe death sentence. Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Asian American adults are more divided, with half saying the death penalty deters serious crimes and a similar share (49%) saying it does not. Just 25% of those who oppose the death penalty say it is morally justified. The death penalty remains a controversial political and legal issue in the United States. While many are in favor of capital punishment, others still show compassion and mercy on the criminals, thinking that a human still resides in the monster that killed many souls. I have ten death penalty articles that will help you turn a stale topic into a well-written and interesting essay. Here are the questions used for the report, along with responses, and its methodology. John Duncan the father of the victim Lori Duncan and grandfather of her slain daughters, Kandace (age 10) and Amber (age 6) had urged Mr. Honkens execution for years. This books brings together original work by prominent scholars in an effort to better understand the growth of life without parole and its social, cultural, political, and legal meanings. "The Death Penalty is Cheaper Than Feeding a Murderer for Life" According to the Death Penalty Information Center, independent studies in several states, including Oklahoma, reveal that capital punishment is actually far more expensive to administer than life imprisonment. CORRECTION (July 13, 2021): The following sentence was updated to reflect the correct timespan: Last year, in part because of the coronavirus outbreak, fewer people were executed than in any year in nearly three decades. The changes did not affect the reports substantive findings. The statistics on racial disparity are all backed up by links from credible sources. The court's ruling is believed to have made proving racial discrimination more difficult. Republicans are 29 percentage points more likely than Democrats to say the death penalty is morally justified, 28 points more likely to say it deters serious crimes, and 19 points more likely to say that adequate safeguards exist. Web. What its about: Although this article does not explicitly state an anti-death penalty point of view, it does have those undertones. On July 16, Wesley Purkey was executed for the 1998 murder of a teenage girl, whom he kidnapped, raped, killed, dismembered and discarded in a septic pond. In Support of the Death Penalty An article detailing the argument for the death penalty. What its about: This article does not state the authors opinion, but concentrates on an avid death penalty advocate, Kent Scheidegger. But as a legal issue, it is straightforward. In July, the United States carried out its first federal execution in 17 years. Michael Smith. Since our nation's founding, the government -- colonial, federal, and state -- has punished a varying percentage of arbitrarily-selected murders with the ultimate sanction: death. From 1972 to 1976, thirty-five US states revised their death penalty laws. As you can tell, there are a lot of different types of sources out theresome are emotional, some are dry and factual. The death penalty is helping cut down the population of inmates on death row. The number of executions performed annually began a steady rise during this decade. In Pew Research Center phone surveys conducted between September 2019 and August 2020 (with field periods nearly identical to the online surveys), support for the death penalty was significantly lower: 55% favored the death penalty in September 2019, 53% in January 2020 and 52% in August 2020. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax The American people can decide for themselves which aspects of that process should be considered shameful.. That court entered a last-minute reprieve that the Supreme Court has said should be an extreme exception.. These days, after President Trumps appointment of three justices, liberal members of the court have lost all hope of abolishing capital punishment. What its about: Gillespies article takes a very emotional approach, saying that state governments should protect the lives of all citizens, even convicted murderers. Explain your answer. Arguments against the death penalty. Among Republicans who favor the death penalty, 78% say that Black and White people are equally likely to receive this sentence. 9 min. But as a legal issue, it is straightforward. There are differences in attitudes by education, as well. White prisoners accounted for 56%, compared with their 77% share of the adult population. Theyll look over it and give you suggestions to make it the best it can be. About half of Hispanic (53%), Asian (53%) and Black (48%) Democrats favor the death penalty, compared with 42% of White Democrats. Furthermore, a 2009 survey of criminologists revealed that "over 88% believed the death penalty was not a deterrent to murder.". Moral arguments. And when those tactics failed, they accused the Justice Department of a grave threat to the rule of law, even though it operated entirely within the law enacted by Congress and approved by the Supreme Court.
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