CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Tyler Burke Sociology 1010
Table of Contents
• Initial Reflection of Topic
• Definition and Social Problem
• Questions to Ask Yourself
• History of Death Penalty
• Pros and Cons of Death Penalty
• Life Imprisonment vs. Capital Punishment
• Final Reflection of Topic
Reflection 1
Before Research Knowledge
The Capital Punishment is also known as the “death penalty “is a punishment
instituted by the state government for people that commit serious felony charges in
the United States. Felony cases in which the individual either hurt a massive group
of people or is a threat to society still tend to have this sentence. Terrorists found in
the US have been given this sentence. However, this sentence is highly debated
throughout the country. In fact, about 30 states have or enforce the Capital
Punishment sentence. In the states that do not have this sentence as legal tend to
morally have a problem with Capital Punishment. These people tend to believe this
sentence is barbaric and just because they committed horrific crimes we should not
give this person a death sentence. On the other hand states that have the death
penalty tend to have a different way of thinking. Most people residing in these
states believe that some people have committed crimes so awful and terrible to
society itself that they as a person should not be able to live in a jail and live off
taxpayer’s money. I tend to just know the basic opinions on the subject but want to
know actual statistics, costs, and pretty much everything else on the topic. I believe
that becoming more aware of the Capital Punishment sentence will help me
become a more informed citizen and voter in the future.
Capital
Punishment
• Definition: The use of the death
penalty to punish wrongdoers for
serious crimes.
• Social Problem: Some believe it a
primitive form of punishment that
needs to be abolished while others
believe the punishment prevents
future crime and recidivism.
o Country divided ( 32 states support
while 18 against).
Death Penalty in America
Questions to Consider:
• Is the purpose of the death penalty to remove
from society someone who would cause more
harm?
• Is the purpose to remove from society someone
who is incapable of rehabilitation?
• Is the purpose of the death penalty to deter
others from committing murder?
• Is the purpose of the death penalty to punish the
criminal?
• Is the purpose of the death penalty to take
retribution on behalf of the victim?
Article 1: Death Penalty History
William Kemmler’s
case 1890 :
leads to Supreme court
ruling found all forms
execution are
constitutional
Weems case 1910:
Court set two rules
concerning sentencing
1. Cruel and unusual
punishment is defined
by the changing norms
and standards of
society and therefore
not based on historical
interpretations
2. Courts may decide
whether a punishment
is unnecessarily cruel
with regard to physical
pain and psychological
pain
Furman
Decision
1960:
The
Bifurcated
death penalty
process. A
two phrase
system , a
criminal trial
phase and a
sentencing
hearing
phase
Ring v Arizona 2002:
Determined people who
are considered
mentally ill, insane or
too young cannot be
executed.
January 17, 1977
Gary Gilmore first man
executed under new
laws. State
governments became
responsible for abiding
to bifurcated
punishment laws.
Article 1: Death Penalty History
Summary
Analysis
• This article covers the evolution
• It gives a better understanding
of Capital Punishment and its
major turning points that affect
how the Death Penalty is used
today.
of what others thought and how
they acted towards the death
penalty in the past. Previous
cases in the US help us to
come up with current solution
now.
• Additional background
knowledge such as this helps
us make a more educated
guess that will most likely be
the right one.
Pros and Cons- Article 2
Pros
Cons
• Deters Serious Crimes
• Fiscally expensive
• Prevents Recidivism
• Violates Human Rights
• Ensures community
• No Rehabilitation process
protection
Article 2 Points of View
Pro- Capital Punishment
Clark County, Indiana
Prosecuting Attorney
"...there are some defendants
who have earned the ultimate
punishment our society has to
offer by committing murder with
aggravating circumstances
present. I believe life is sacred. It
cheapens the life of an innocent
murder victim to say that society
has no right to keep the murderer
from ever killing again. In my
view, society has not only the
right, but the duty to act in self
defense to protect the innocent."
Con-Capital Punishment
Amnesty International
"The death penalty is the
ultimate denial of human rights. It
is the premeditated and coldblooded killing of a human being
by the state in the name of
justice. It violates the right to
life...It is the ultimate cruel,
inhuman and degrading
punishment. There can never be
any justification for torture or for
cruel treatment."
Article 2
Summary
• This article directly
compares the pros and
cons of capital
punishment. It shares
inside information along
with famous quotes that
set the debate and
personal opinion openly
and clearly.
Analysis
• I was provided with
prominent and reliable
sources stating their origin
and educational
background. I learned of
the true debate and the
main points therein. This
pertained to my topic well
and gave me a greater
understanding of it.
Life Imprisonment
vs. Capital
Punishment
•
Community and
Individual Costs
•
Crime and
Individual
Criminal Impact
Community Cost- Article 3
Capital Punishment Cost
• Longer Jury Trials
• More complicated and
frequent appeals
• Continuous motions
• Drawn out Trial Preparation
Due to these things the capital
punishment sentence costs
the individual and the state
many times the cost of
keeping a prisoner in prison for
life.
"Cases receiving a death
notice are approximately
$517,000 more costly during
the trial phase, $147,000 more
costly during the penalty
phase, and $201,000 more
costly during the appellate
phase than a capital eligible
case where no death notice
was filed. On average, a death
notice adds about $1,000,000
in costs over the duration of a
case."
• John Raman: PHD
Article 3: Community Cost
Summary
Analysis
This site along with its
many references presented
me with an accurate cost of
the death penalty on the
state, community and the
individual himself.
It compared and defined
the massively misconstrued
idea that Life in Prison
costs more money. It
provided a new light to my
topic by giving its financial
impact on society.
Article 4- Death Row Unseen horror
Death Row cells are
inhumane
• Prisoners are on
average left in solitary
confinement for over
22 hours until
execution.
• Rooms are depressing
and small for captives
Article 4- Death Row
Summary
The report reveals that
most death row prisoners
are housed in tiny cells,
ranging from 36-100
square feet, roughly the
size of an average
bathroom; 93% of states
lock up their death row
prisoners for 22 or more
hours a day.
Analysis
This report exposes the
true horror of the death
penalty and its inhumane
effects. The novel was
written by a captive before
he was executed. This
article gives an insider
opinion to the view of the
death penalty.
Cullen and Ball 2005
Article 5:Criminal
Impact
Life in Prison
•Does not prevent
recidivism
•Prone to additional
crime and depression
•However, may open
areas of religious
avenues and possible
change
"the inmate who has served a longer amount
of time, becoming more “prisonised” in the
process, has had his tendencies toward
criminality strengthened and is therefore
more likely to recidivate than the inmate
who has served a lesser amount of time"
Article 5- Criminal Impact
Summary
• Life imprisonment really
does not promote a
behavior change in
criminals. Criminals are
prone to emotional trauma
that can lead to violence.
Analysis
• Life imprisonment may
not be as humane as
people may think. Ending
a horrible life through
capital punishment may
be a more viable option
especially if criminals
have emotional damages.
Final Reflection
• The death penalty became the highly debated topic that I believed it would become. Opinions from
both right and left wings, police officers and criminals and the overall general public understanding
gave me a far better understanding of the problem at hand. A capital punishment I found depended
mainly on situation, seriousness of the crime, who was involved and even the community tax payers
running the incarceration facilities. It would shocking to find out that the Death Penalty causes the
state and the charged criminal more headaches fiscally. Due to longer jury trials, more complicated
and frequent appeals, continuous motions and drawn out trial preparation the death penalty cost the
state and its individuals 3 times the cost of housing a criminal in jail for life. In fact according to John
Rahman, “on average, a death notice adds about $1,000,000 in costs over the duration of a case.“
The death penalty may not be however, the most fiscally responsible system however, it is the
greatest deterrent the legal system can use in preventing criminals from once again committing
crime. Life imprisonment does not have that effect. Researchers have proven that criminals locked
up for life not only have a greater chance of committing crime compared to others that are
incarcerated but than those that have the death penalty. Many argue that the rehabilitation center
inside the jail could help aid that problem. However, statistics show that this rehabilitation center has
completed little change in the criminals and their behavior. Those that support the death penalty
believe it has several purposes: it deters crime/murder, punishes criminal and seeks retribution of
victim, to remove harmful criminals that may be dangerous to citizens or themselves. . From my
research I believe the system of Capital Punishment needs to be altered to become more fiscally
responsible so that situations involving the Death penalty will run more smoothly. Life imprisonment
may seem more humane however; criminals subject to their life rotting in the prison for good are
susceptible to additional crimes. Unless the Life imprisonment comes up with a more statistically
consistent solution to recidivism, the Death Penalty should be looked toward more . To keep our
streets safe for now and the future the Death penalty may still be the best option for dealing with
extreme criminals.
Works Cited
URL Used:
• http://deathpenalty.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001000
• http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/costs-death-penalty
• http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Capital_punishment
Books Used:
• L. Kay Gillespie, The Unforgiven: A History of Utah's Executed Men (1991)
• A Death before Dying: Solitary Confinement on Death Row: Anthony Graves
People Opinions Based Off :
• Dec. 1, 1997 - Gary D. Beatty, J
• Dec. 15, 2009 - John Roman, PhD
• Apr. 18, 2012 - Charles M. Harris, JD
• Clark County, Indiana Prosecuting Attorney
• Amnesty International