It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Under US constitutional law, states have the right to apply their own criminal statutes including capital punishment. News & Cases See more. Why its a good source: Again, this article could be used for either side of the argument. For example, is life in prison without the possibility of parole a sufficient sentence? He was finally executed in 1998.2 Most states authorized a system of allowing the jury to decide the guilty party's punishment, though some allowed judges to make the decision or retain the right to overrule the jury. 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. The American people have repeatedly ratified that decision, including through the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 signed by President Bill Clinton, the federal execution of Timothy McVeigh under President George W. Bush and the decision by President Barack Obamas Justice Department to seek the death penalty against the Boston Marathon bomber and Dylann Roof. It also carries the risk of carrying out a wrongful execution. Pro death penalty for this essay pdf automatic . Supporters of the death penalty believe that those who commit murder, because they have taken the life of another, have forfeited . Both men were executed in Virginia in January 2021. The Justice Department decided to pause the execution for several hours while the appellate court considered and promptly rejected Mr. Lees request. Republicans are consistently more likely than Democrats to favor the death penalty, though there are divisions within each party by age as well as by race and ethnicity. More than 14,000 people have been legally executed since colonial times, most of them in the early 20th Century. It includes many facts and dates about the shifts in procedures of the death penalty and gives more information than other death penalty articles about the lethal injection drug shortage. When he signed the bill, Northam referenced the disproportionate use of the death penalty against Black men in the state and the 170 prisoners sentenced to death row who had been exonerated after capital punishment was reinstated in the United States. 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. A large majority of White adults without college degrees (72%) favor the death penalty, compared with about half (47%) of White adults who have degrees. Among Democrats, adults ages 50 to 64 are much more likely than adults in other age groups to favor the death penalty. 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. Choose articles from reputable sources. Or are you universally opposed to capital punishment? It eliminates sympathetic reactions to someone charged with a capital crime. This conclusion comes from careful state-by-state monitoring of maternal mortality, including deaths occurring at birth and around the time of birth. In the years since the McCleskey ruling, opponents of capital punishment have continued to voice concerns about the role of racial bias in death penalty sentencing. It says that capital punishment serves as retribution for victims and their families, as well as a deterrence for other murders. 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. During the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, lawyers for federal death-row inmates Dustin Higgs and Corey Johnson argued that their clients, both of whom tested positive for COVID-19, should not be subject to lethal injection. Black: 40.9%. Mr. Rosen is the deputy attorney general. But as a legal issue, it is straightforward. Majorities of White (63%), Asian (63%) and Hispanic adults (56%) favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) authorizes federal death penalty cases, which are prosecuted in federal court. There, as elsewhere, prosecutors, judges and jurors are concluding that the modern death penalty is a failed experiment. Most people who write about the death penalty have an opinion one way or the other about it. The Eighth Amendment, however, prohibits the government from enforcing "cruel and unusual punishment," which several lawsuits have used successfully to challenge certain applications of capital punishment. Pro death penalty persuasive speech. This article traces the history of anti-death penalty arguments in three US states: Connecticut, Kansas, and Texas. All cases were related to ongoing state-level efforts to reform capital punishment laws. The death penalty in the Philippines was first abolished in 1987, making the Philippines the first country in Asia to terminate death penalty. Tell us about it. Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning. More than eight-in-ten Democrats (83%) instead say that Black people are more likely than White people to be sentenced to the death penalty for committing similar crimes. The article admits that 100% accuracy in anything is impossible, but it commends Romney for trying. In Gallup's most recent poll, 67 percent of Americans favor the death penalty for those convicted of murder, while only 28 percent are opposed. Top 9 Pro Death Penalty Arguments. He said that death row exonerations were frequent, that death sentences were imposed arbitrarily and that the capital justice system was marred by racial discrimination. The term death penalty is sometimes used interchangeably with capital . Mic Network Inc., 23 June 2013. 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. All right, lets get started with four pro-death penalty articles. Gillespie, Nick. The United States Constitution expressly contemplates capital crimes, and Congress has authorized the death penalty for serious federal offenses since President George Washington signed the Crimes Act of 1790. 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. Some states attempted to circumvent regulations, resulting in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seizing drug supplies from prisons in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The best way to explore the pros and cons of death penalty laws is to read an argumentative essay on this issue. These days, after President Trumps appointment of three justices, liberal members of the court have lost all hope of abolishing capital punishment. Lower Drinking Age. For example, Black people are overrepresented on death row, and a recent study found that defendants convicted of killing white victims were executed at a rate 17 times greater than those convicted of killing Black victims. Does this information change or reinforce your opinion of capital punishment? In Support of the Death Penalty An article detailing the argument for the death penalty. WASHINGTON (AP) Conservative justices holding the Supreme Court's majority seem likely to sink President Joe Biden's plan to wipe away or reduce student loans held by millions of Americans . Anyone can read what you share. Being killed by lethal injection or being electrocuted is not always smooth and . In the face of an extraordinary run of federal executions over the past six months, they have been left to wonder whether the court is prepared to play any role in capital cases beyond hastening executions. This in-depth article examines US state legislation that has impacted death sentencing in capital crimes. Just 25% of those who oppose the death penalty say it is morally justified. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. 1. 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. However, he backs up his emotional statements with statistics and links to studies that indicate that the death penalty is costly, doesnt necessarily deter murders, and is imposed on people who are innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted. Web. Facing increasing pressure to rule on the constitutionality of capital punishment law, an unofficial nationwide moratorium on, or suspension of, executions began in 1968. Contemporary arguments for and against capital punishment fall under three general headings: moral, utilitarian, and practical. Most of the country did not use the death penalty, he said, and the United States was an international outlier in embracing it. Scheidegger is a California lawyer who is a staunch pro-death penalty supporter. 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. The shortage resulted in the postponement of several scheduled executions. 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 . How people can support the death penalty? 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. Death penalty is still needed, despite its inhumanity. Students, read the entire article, then tell us: Do you support the use of capital punishment? Capital Punishment refers to the practice where a person is killed by a State as a punishment for a crime. Partisanship continues to be a major factor in support for the death penalty and opinions about its administration. Or is that still too harsh? Grades: 8-10 More>>. (2001) "Capital Punishment," by Ryan Koder. 14 Jan. 2015. Democrats and Democratic leaners are more divided on this issue: 46% favor the death penalty, while 53% are opposed. Eden Meirow is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. Because of this unique argument, this article should not be ignored. This created a problem for juries that found a defendant guilty but did not believe the offense warranted a sentence of death. If you've looked for capital punishment essay topics, you're in luck! Mr. Lees final hours awaiting his fate were a result of his own lawyers choice to assert a non-meritorious objection at the last moment. About four-in-ten (39%) oppose the death penalty, with 15% strongly opposed, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. . 83 Capital Punishment Essay Topics & Examples. 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). What its about: Jacobys article tells of then-governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romneys plan to create a fool-proof, error-free death penalty. Supporters of capital punishment argue that it deters crime and provides ultimate justice for crime victims, particularly murder victims. Even if you have a firm opinion, you need to understand the other arguments out there so you can counter them. This means checking out sources from different states and different sides of the political spectrum. It will make your arguments and the support for those arguments much stronger. "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. Mastermind Behind Bars: Clarence Ray Allen. 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. But as a legal issue, it is straightforward. Warren McCleskey, a Black resident of Georgia, had been convicted of killing a white police officer during an armed robbery in 1978 and sentenced to death. Why its a good source: Though the article does not include links to the studies and polls it references, it gives substantial statistics and cites where they came fromDuke University study and a Gallup poll. Robbery Turned Murder: Robert Trease Case . 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 McCleskey v. Kemp (1987), the US Supreme Court again confronted the issue of race and capital punishment. A grand jury determined in 2016 that state officials had committed a long list of oversights and avoidable mistakes in carrying out executions. In the US, that number is 65%. Opponents counter that it is an immoral and costly practice that is particularly vulnerable to racial bias. The deepest element of the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" is to protect human life, and is the requirement to show reverence and love for every person and the life of every human being.The assault on human life is a consequence of original sin. On July 14, Daniel Lewis Lee was executed for the 1996 murder of a family, including an 8-year-old girl, by suffocating and drowning them in the Illinois Bayou after robbing them to fund a white-supremacist organization. Death Penalty. The analysis suggests that adequate provision of counsel by states in death penalty cases correlates to reduced imposition of death sentences. Critics accused Arkansas officials of carrying out executions in an "assembly line" fashion, and drug companies also objected to the state's use of a pharmaceutical formulation in lethal injections. For death penalty supporters, one major pro is its effectiveness as a crime deterrent. It then covers the popular opinions of death penalty sentences, and goes on to state and give statistics indicating that state executions deter anywhere from 2 to 20 murders within Texas annually. It also gives in-depth information about the lethal injection drug shortage and statistics on the publics views on the death sentence. For example, about two-thirds of conservative Republicans (65%) say this compared with 34% who say there are adequate safeguards to ensure that no innocent person will be executed despite conservative Republicans expressing quite favorable attitudes toward the death penalty on other questions. 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. Among Democrats, a 55% majority of conservatives and moderates favor the death penalty, a position held by just 36% of liberal Democrats (64% of liberal Democrats oppose the death penalty). What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. (1996) "Death penalty functions to preserve just society," by Andrew Jones. When someone commits a crime it disturbs the order of society; these crimes take away lives, peace, and liberties from society. The Economist Newspaper Limited, 26 Apr. Half of those who favor the death penalty say this, compared with 13% of those who oppose it. Mr. Purkey was prosecuted during the George W. Bush administration, and his conviction and sentence were vigorously defended throughout the Obama administration. The next day, Dustin Honken was executed for five murders committed in 1993, including the execution-style shooting of two young girls, their mother, and two prospective witnesses against him in a federal prosecution for methamphetamine trafficking. New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2013. Do you think capital punishment should end? In a pro death penalty article, the author . Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. The federal government lifted its capital punishment moratorium in 1988, though it did not carry out another execution until 2001. 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. some members of Mr. Lees victims families opposed his execution. In the article "Death penalty is a deterrence", the authors claims that by practicing the death penalty, violent crimes will decrease. Purification, one of the most central of biblical themes, reveals to us both the temporal and eternal perspectives on humanity. Legal scholars have expressed concern that such judicial activism undermines the authority of the state legislature, federal courts, and the US Constitution. This way no innocent lives would be sentenced to death. 9 min. Though their use is rare, secondary execution methods permitted by individual state laws include electrocution, gas inhalation, hanging, and firing squad. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public. Let's do a break down on ALL races that received a death sentence since 1977. While public support for the death penalty has changed only modestly in recent years, support for the death penalty declined substantially between the late 1990s and the 2010s. A post accompanying this report provides further detail and analysis of the mode differences seen on this question. Despite comprising less than 15 percent of the US population, African Americans comprised more than half of the nearly four thousand people executed from 1930 to 1967. The death penalty is far more expensive than a system in which life imprisonment without parole is the maximum sentence. Among the public overall, 64% say the death penalty is morally justified in cases of murder, while 33% say it is not justified. Below, our experts have collected some death penalty title ideas and samples for your paper. Those who favor the death penalty consistently express more favorable attitudes regarding specific aspects of the death penalty than those who oppose it. These rulings overturned existing standards for evidence and jury agreement when imposing the death penalty. The American people have repeatedly ratified that decision, including through the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 signed by President Bill Clinton, the federal execution of Timothy McVeigh under President George W. Bush and the decision by President Barack Obamas Justice Department to seek the death penalty against the Boston Marathon bomber and Dylann Roof. Please support our research with a financial contribution. Oklahoma attorney general Mike Hunter announced that the state would adopt nitrogen gas inhalation as its primary method of execution in March 2018, citing the difficulty in procuring the mandated drugs for lethal injection. Some of the cons of capital punishment include the following; Death penalty is a great burden to taxpayers financially because the actual cost of carrying out capital punishment is approximated to be 2-5 times higher than leaving the offender in prison for as many . Governors had placed moratoriums on the death penalty in an additional three states. Capital Punishment in America: Race and the Death Penalty over Time by Martin G. Urbina. Nor did the family members of Wesley Purkeys victim, Jennifer Long, who were in Terre Haute on Wednesday afternoon. The Federal Death Penalty Act prohibits the government from executing an inmate who is mentally disabled; however, in the recent executions of Corey Johnson, Alfred Bourgeois and Lisa Montgomery, their defense teams, families and others argued that they had intellectual disabilities. Mr. Lees lawyers opposed that request, insisting that overturning the order would result in their clients imminent execution. 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