The Death Penalty
By Zack Ridall
Questions

Does it work?

Is it legally accounted for?

Should we be doing it?
Common Arguments Against

“Capital punishment does not deter crime”

“Capital punishment violates the bill or rights”
Does Capital Punsihment Deter
Crime?
Number of Executions

1960 – 56 executions

1965 – 15 executions

1969 – varies on source (0-10) executions

1972-1976- temporary ban is placed



0 executions
source-Beyond Repair? America's Death
Penalty
Source- The Death Penalty is a Deterrant
Murder Rates

1960 – 9,110 murders

1965 – 9,960 murders

1969 – 14,760 murders

1972 – 18,670 murders

1975 - 20,510 murders


1976 – 18,780 murders
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.ht
m
Table
Does capital punishment violate the
constitution?
th
5
Amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in
the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in
actual service in time of War or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same offense to be
twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be
compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property
be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Copy of constitution--www.usconstitution.net
th
8

Amendment
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual
punishments inflicted.

Is it cruel or unusual?

Current method – lethal injection

Condemned is injected with two drugs
one to put him to sleep, the next shut down
the heart
th
14



Amendment
Rights of the citizens
(defines a citizen)... No State shall make or
enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities of citizens of the United
States
nor shall any State deprive any person of life,
liberty, or property, without due process of law;
nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws.
What Was Discussed

Arguments addressed

Crime Deterrence

Constitutionality

Does it work?

Is it legal
Concluding thought


Is this a question of morals or of reason?
It is unethical to sway someones morals yet
only logical to sway ones reason.

Is it capital punishment logical?

Is it moral?
Sources






"Death Penalty Debates - Pros and Cons." Social Issues - Home. Web. 2
Nov. 2009. <http://socialissues.wiseto.com/Topics/DeathPenalty/>.
Garvey, Stephen P., and Stephen P. Garvey. Beyond Repair? America's
Death Penalty (Constitutional Conflicts). New York: Duke UP, 2002. Print.
Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 2 Nov.
2009. <http://www.usconstitution.net>.
"Lethal Injection Procedures." Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Web. 2 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/reports_research/Lethal_Injection.html>.
"Pro Capital Punishment Page." Wesley Lowe - The Necromancer Wars.
Web. 2 Nov. 2009. <http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html#deter>.
"United States Crime Rates 1960 - 2008." The Disaster Center - Home
Page. Web. 2 Nov. 2009.
<http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm>
Contact

zbr5003@psu.edu