Number Of Crimes Punishable By Death example essay topic

Among the first people to be executed were the so-called witches within the colonies. These executions became known as the Salem Witch trials. When the trials between May and October 1692 were over, there were about twenty people that were sentenced to die. According to the English law many offenses were punishable by death. Most included property crimes and such other non-violent crimes. Robbery, extortion, arson and pick pocketing were all punishable by death.

In Massachusetts there were only thirteen crimes punishable by death which include; cursing, adultery, lying under oath, praying to idols, etc. Throughout the colonies Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York kept the death penalty while in others they opposed and abolished the law. Michigan was the first state to do away with capital punishment. After that the states followed although Maine teeter tottered until 1887, when the law was abolished. Many years passed and states went back and forth on whether or not to keep or discard the death penalty. Some discarded it while other kept it and limited the number of crimes punishable by death.

Since May 1995, 38 out of the 50 states had capital punishment laws. The ongoing debate about capital punishment is a tug of war. When crime declines the need for death penalty declines and when crime increases the need also increases. It's all a matter of our social situation.

Statistics show that by 2001 the 80 percent of supporters declined to a 65 percent and went even lower in 2002. From 1990 to 2000 the number of people sentenced to die was a good 3,550 the number of people executed was highest in 1930's to the 1940's. In 1994, as part of the crime bill, the federal death penalty was expanded to some 60 different offenses. Some of the federal crimes for which people in any state or United Sates territory can receive a death sentence are, murder, kidnapping resulting in death, fatal drive-by shootings, sexual abuse crimes resulting in death, car jacking resulting in death, and crimes not resulting in death, such as running a large-scale drug endeavor.

Below are some statistics taken from another source. Since 1988, the federal government has authorized seeking the death penalty against 211 defendants. Of the 211 approved prosecutions, 158 (75%) were against minority defendants. Of these defendants, 53 have been white, 39 Hispanic, 12 Asian / Indian/Pacific Islander, 2 Arab and 105 African American.

Of the twenty inmates currently on federal death row, 17 (85%) are members of a minority group. For a summary of the cases authorized for the federal death penalty. Of the 211 federal death penalty prosecutions authorized by the Attorney General since 1988, 75% have been against minorities: 53 white 39 Hispanic 14 Asian / Indian/Arab 105 African-American. 211 prosecutions - 158 (75%) were against minority defendants To carry out the death penalty results in many various ways. Some of these executions occur by lethal injections, electrocution, beheading, hanging, firing squad, etc.

Certain procedures are set and required to follow in order for the execution to occur. Procedures as follows: -14 witnesses are allowed in chamber-8 security officers strap the inmate-2 execution technicians-A cardiac monitor is attached to the inmate- A curtain opens to allow view to witnesses Methods of execution vary in different states. Some have the gas chamber as well as some of the others. The one that was the most common way of execution was the electric chair.

A reporter who witnessed the first electrocution in New York described it as "an odor of burning flesh" and "a blue flame played about the base of the victim's spine". On May 4, 1990 "it took three separate 2,000 volt surges to kill a man in Florida. Fire, smoke, and sparks spewed from his head". Supporters tend to believe that capital punishment is both a necessary and a just punishment for the most heinous and violent crimes. Opponents believe that capital punishment is unnecessary and unjust, and that the most violent criminals should be sentenced to life in prison instead of death. Although both parties agree that punishments are necessary to deter crime and to encourage law-abiding behavior, the punishment musty fit the crime, with more serious crimes requiring more serious punishment, and those punishments must be administered by the state through due process of law rather than by individuals through vigilante action.

Between 1976 and January 2001,683 men and women were put to death. Out of that many people 13 were under the age of 18. In August 2000, 80 out of the 3,726 on death row were young offenders waiting execution. The American Bar Association opposes to death sentences for "any person for an offense committed while under the age of eighteen". Most states forbid the death penalty among people under the age of eighteen. Although they are against it, depending on the seriousness of the crime, the judge can decide to try the juvenile or juveniles as an adult.

In the state of California, people can be sentenced to the death penalty if you are 14 and older. Another group of people that shouldn't be executed according to many people are mentally retarded people. George W. Bush and His brother Jeb Bush are strong supporters of the death penalty however, when Jeb Bush stated that mentally retarded people should not be executed his brother George was opposing laws against that. Executing an innocent person has always been a big issue in the capital punishment debate. Although many people believe that it is unlikely to execute the wrong person it in fact does happen. Research shows that 139 innocent people were sentenced to death.

Not all of these people were executed. In total 23 innocent people have indeed been executed. The reason this usually happens is because of false information given by witnesses and negligence on law enforcement officials as well as individuals associated with the judicial process. Many innocent people sentenced are because the officials have a personal problem with the suspect. Perhaps the official is biased or hates a certain race. In my opinion capital punishment should stay within all states but it should be used only on specific cases.

I am a supporter of the death penalty. I believe that it is not right that us, the taxpayers of this country, should be paying for someone sitting in jail eating, sleeping, exercising, and living a life of luxury for committing a crime rather than paying for what they have done. I am also a supporter of an eye for an eye. You rape someone, you should be raped, you kill you shall be killed. In the case of people under the age of eighteen I believe that determining on the extent of the crime they should receive the death penalty as well.

If you have a child who is six years old and kills their brother, then tells the judge that she meant to do it than why can't we condemn her to the death penalty? She is guilty of premeditated murder and if it was a guy who was 35 it's ok to execute him? I don't think so. I do however; believe that we should be more careful in trying people because it is the awful truth that many innocent people are executed. I also believe that the amount of appeals that someone on death row should be allowed to have be reduced..