The Death PenaltyThe Death Penalty

Will TuranskiWill Turanski

Alli MorrisonAlli Morrison

BackgroundBackground

Offenses and Crimes that can be Offenses and Crimes that can be punished by death are called capital punished by death are called capital offenses.offenses.

In the World, only 58 countries allow In the World, only 58 countries allow and use the penalty of deathand use the penalty of death

Commonly refered to as 'Capital Commonly refered to as 'Capital Punishment'Punishment'

States decision to be for or againstStates decision to be for or against

HistoryHistory first established death penalty laws date as far back as the first established death penalty laws date as far back as the

Eighteenth CenturyEighteenth CenturyOld ways of execution:Old ways of execution: Brazen Bull: Stand in a small room with fire under you-cook to Brazen Bull: Stand in a small room with fire under you-cook to

deathdeath Hanging Drawing and Quartering: Tied to a wooden frame and Hanging Drawing and Quartering: Tied to a wooden frame and

dragged behind a horse, disembowel and emasculate the victim, dragged behind a horse, disembowel and emasculate the victim, and burn the entrails in front of his eyesand burn the entrails in front of his eyes

BurningBurning Ling Chi: Slow cuttingLing Chi: Slow cutting Breaking Wheel: mediaeval execution device, arms and legs Breaking Wheel: mediaeval execution device, arms and legs

stretched until deathstretched until death BoilingBoiling Flaying: skin of the criminal is removed from their body with the Flaying: skin of the criminal is removed from their body with the

use of a very sharp knifeuse of a very sharp knife Necklacing: rubber tire is filled with gasoline, forced over the arms Necklacing: rubber tire is filled with gasoline, forced over the arms

and chest of the victim, and set alightand chest of the victim, and set alight

Major CasesMajor Cases 1976 Gregg v. Georgia- Gregg challenged that 1976 Gregg v. Georgia- Gregg challenged that

capitol punishment was 'Cruel and Unusual'capitol punishment was 'Cruel and Unusual' 2005 Roper v. Simmons- Simmons committed a 2005 Roper v. Simmons- Simmons committed a

crime at age 17 but was tried when he was 18, crime at age 17 but was tried when he was 18, constitution prohibits execution of juvenileconstitution prohibits execution of juvenile

Atkins v. Virginia: Supreme Court voted 6-3 that Atkins v. Virginia: Supreme Court voted 6-3 that the execution of mentally retarded persons is the execution of mentally retarded persons is prohibited under the Eighth Amendment as cruel prohibited under the Eighth Amendment as cruel and unusual punishment(2002)and unusual punishment(2002)

Usage in the USUsage in the US

ProsPros

It serves the crime (murder for It serves the crime (murder for murder)murder)

Helps reduce the amount of violent Helps reduce the amount of violent crimes and murderscrimes and murders

Ensures that prisons do not get Ensures that prisons do not get overcrowdedovercrowded

"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent "If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."former. This, to me, is not a tough call."

-John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political -John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political Science, on deterrenceScience, on deterrence

ConsCons It is immoral for religious reasonsIt is immoral for religious reasons ““An eye for an eye makes the whole An eye for an eye makes the whole

world blind”-Gandhiworld blind”-Gandhi Unfair- most sentenced to death are Unfair- most sentenced to death are

male, a minority, or poormale, a minority, or poor The idea of killing an innocent personThe idea of killing an innocent person Very expensive to execute someone Very expensive to execute someone

(about $2 million).(about $2 million). http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=7F-PCDopKBkv=7F-PCDopKBk

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

Book called "The Death Penalty: A Defence" by David Book called "The Death Penalty: A Defence" by David AndersonAnderson

Justice For All: A Texas-based not-for-profit advocating Justice For All: A Texas-based not-for-profit advocating for criminal justice reform with an emphasis on victim for criminal justice reform with an emphasis on victim rights. Justice for All is a strong advocate of the death rights. Justice for All is a strong advocate of the death penaltypenalty

Throw Away the Keys: Parents of a murdered child Throw Away the Keys: Parents of a murdered child plea for help in keeping his murderer in prison. plea for help in keeping his murderer in prison. Advocates the death penalty for convicted murderers.Advocates the death penalty for convicted murderers.

NCADP: The National Coalition to Abolish the Death NCADP: The National Coalition to Abolish the Death PenaltyPenalty

StatisticsStatistics

StatisticsStatistics

the Commission estimates the annual costs the Commission estimates the annual costs of the present system ($137 million per of the present system ($137 million per year)year)

the present system after implementation of the present system after implementation of the reforms ... ($232.7 million per year) the reforms ... ($232.7 million per year)

system which imposes a maximum penalty of system which imposes a maximum penalty of lifetime incarceration instead of the lifetime incarceration instead of the death penalty ($11.5 million)."death penalty ($11.5 million)."

In California the current system costs In California the current system costs $137 million, it would cost $11.5 million $137 million, it would cost $11.5 million for a system without the death penaltyfor a system without the death penalty

Recent DevelopmentsRecent Developments Capital Punishments has been at their lowest since Capital Punishments has been at their lowest since

1976 1976  Most Likely, Conneticut will be the next state to Most Likely, Conneticut will be the next state to

abolish Capitol Punishmentabolish Capitol Punishment Illinois just outlawed the death sentence, due to the Illinois just outlawed the death sentence, due to the

concern of innocent people being executedconcern of innocent people being executed June 2008, Supreme Court held that it was cruel June 2008, Supreme Court held that it was cruel

and unusual punishment to use the death penalty and unusual punishment to use the death penalty against individuals convicted of raping a minoragainst individuals convicted of raping a minor

April 2008, lethal injection procedures in Kentucky April 2008, lethal injection procedures in Kentucky do not violate the 8do not violate the 8thth ammendment's prohibition ammendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishmentagainst cruel and unusual punishment

    

Political party viewsPolitical party views

For the most part, Democrats And For the most part, Democrats And Republicans support the death Republicans support the death penalty.penalty.

Most people that are against the Most people that are against the Death Penalty have a democratic Death Penalty have a democratic ideology.ideology.

Green Party is against the death Green Party is against the death penalty because its classistpenalty because its classist

Public Opinion PollsPublic Opinion Polls

Public Opinion PollsPublic Opinion Polls