Non-Religious View of the Death Penalty

Learning Intentions

1. Understand who Amnesty International are.2. Explain the groups view on the use of the

death penalty.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights.

This Amnesty International's iconic logo of a candle wrapped in barbed wire was inspired by the ancient Chinese proverb: “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”In other words its work would shine a light in the darkest of places where human rights abuses go unpunished.

JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE DEATH PENALTY

What have you heard?

• It’s justice: just deserts, “eye for an eye” (retribution)

• It brings closure for the victim’s family

• It’s less expensive than permanent imprisonment

• It deters murder

• It shows society’s disgust for the crime

• It prevents offenders from murdering again

• Some crimes require the “ultimate penalty”

THE CASE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY

1) Human Rights Violated Twice

Rather than upholding society’s highest values, the death penalty imitates the crime it condemns.

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

(The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 3, 5)2 wrongs don’t make 1 right!

2) Equal Justice before the Law?

• Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

• All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.

• Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

(The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 6, 7, 8)

2) Equal Justice?a) Socio-economic Bias

• One of the most pivotal determinants of whether a defendant will receive the death penalty is the quality of their legal representation.

• Almost all death row prisoners could not afford their own attorney.

• Appointed attorneys are often overworked, underpaid, or lacking the trial experience required for death penalty cases.

2) Equal Justice? b) Racial Bias

Source: Death Penalty Information Center

Race of Defendants Executed Race of Victim in Death Penalty Cases

2) Equal Justice?c) Arbitrary Application

• Only about 2% of known murderers are sentenced to death

• Prosecutors (elected) have discretion in seeking a death sentence

• Suburban, predominantly white and affluent jurisdictions tend to have prosecutors who are more eager (and better resourced) to seek the death penalty.

• In Alabama, Florida and Delaware, elected judges can override a jury’s decision to sentence someone to life or death.

Source: Death Penalty Information Center

3) System Failurea) Error-Riddled

• 70% of all death sentences are reversed due to serious error such as:– incompetent defense lawyers– police or prosecutorial misconduct

• Capital trials produce so many mistakes that it takes three judicial inspections to catch them

• Of the 2,370 death sentences thrown out due to serious error, 90% were overturned by state judges—many were the same ones who imposed the death sentence in the first place

(Liebman Study – Columbia Univ.)

3) System Failure b) Wrongful Convictions

140 people have been released from death row due to evidence of their innocence since 1973 (including one in 2012).

Source: Death Penalty Information Center

3) System Failure c) Deterrence

Of the top US academic criminological society presidents, 88% reject the notion that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to murder.

3) System Failured) Millions Wasted

The entire process for capital vs. non-capital cases is far more costly:

The average death penalty case costs $1.26 million vs. $740,000 (permanent incarceration) Maryland: The average death penalty case costs approx. $3M ($1.9M more than non-

death penalty case) Florida: The death penalty costs $51M/yr beyond cost of permanent imprisonment. California: The death penalty costs $137M/yr beyond cost of permanent

imprisonment.Kansas: costs of death penalty vs. non-death penalty cases:

investigation - 3x more; trial - 16x more; appeals - 21x more

Source: Death Penalty Information Center

NON-RELIGIOUS VIEWAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

What does this symbol mean?

Why is capital punishment unfair to the poor?

Why is capital punishment unfair to the poor?

What is surprising about the ethic groups on death row?

Why can the system of capital punishment be described as error-riddled?

Why does the argument it is cheaper to kill people than put them in prison nonsense?

ARE THERE OTHER METHODS?YES, THERE IS A BETTER WAY!

Jeremy IronsFamous British Actor and member of Amnesty International

FactHe was the voice of Scar in the Lion King

Activity

Watch this short clip with Jeremy Irons and note down the arguments he mentions against the use of capital

punishment - watch out as there are quite a few!!!

Preventing Murder

How would you spend tens of millions of £/year ?Prevention policy: violence, drug/alcohol abuse, treatment for the mentally illPublic Safety: resources for more police on the streets?

Troy Davis

Read through the case study on Troy Davis and answer the following questions;

1. In your own words explain what Troy Davis was convicted of.

2. Why was the case against him seen as weak (to say the least!)

3. Why were so many people shocked at the decision of the Judge on 24th August 2010?

4. Why might Amnesty International use Troy Davis as an example to show that we should not be using the death penalty at all as punishment?

Getting ready for assessment

• National 4 & 5 Assessment on Monday • Assessment is open book so you can use

all your notes/jotters & homework• Revision periods on Thursday/Friday • Supported study on tomorrow after

school – make sure you have an idea of what you need help with if coming along