Death Penalty in the United States of America JEUDY François - VENCE Eric 3 BR

History 1608 : First recorded execution 1608 : First recorded execution 1846 : Michigan become the first state to abolish the death penalty 1846 : Michigan become the first state to abolish the death penalty 1890 : First use of the electric chair 1890 : First use of the electric chair 1924 : The use of gaz is introduced 1924 : The use of gaz is introduced JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

How does it work ? Jurisdiction States States Capital crimes Capital crimes Methods Methods The Death row The Death row The case of the Electrocution JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Juvenile Offenders Universal prohibition Universal prohibition Declared by the UN Declared by the UN Not respected by USA Not respected by USA Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of the Child USA and Somalia : only countries which do not ratify this Convention USA and Somalia : only countries which do not ratify this Convention Juvenile offenders execution in only 4 countries since 2000 Juvenile offenders execution in only 4 countries since 2000 JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Mental Illness and Retardation Legal matters Legal matters Prohibited by international laws Prohibited by international laws Governments are called to update their legislation Governments are called to update their legislation Violates US Constitution Violates US Constitution Executions still taking place Executions still taking place Mental Retardation : unconstitutional Mental Retardation : unconstitutional Insane persons were still being executed in August 2000 Insane persons were still being executed in August 2000 JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Racial Prejudices 1/2 Major Issue in the US Major Issue in the US Racial disparities in the charging, sentencing of death penalty ? Racial disparities in the charging, sentencing of death penalty ? Evidence of racial discrimination ? Evidence of racial discrimination ? JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Racial Prejudices 2/2 JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Innocence/Unfair Since 1976 : 112 people released from death row Ninety-five percent of death row inmates cannot afford their own attorney. Death penalty far more frequently sought when the victim is white. Co-defendants charged with committing the same crime often receive different punishments. Individual prosecutors make their own decisions. Only a small percentage of the people convicted of crimes for which the death penalty is a possibility actually receive a death sentence. JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Facts and figures 1/3 Programming JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Facts and figures 2/3 Total executions since 1976: 892 JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Facts and figures 3/3 JEUDY François - VENCE Eric

Cost Execution more expensive Execution more expensive 3.2 million US dollars for an execution 3.2 million US dollars for an execution dollars for life emprisonement dollars for life emprisonement Money for death penalty => less money for justice and prevention Money for death penalty => less money for justice and prevention Death penalty = expensive proceeding Death penalty = expensive proceeding money spent prior to execution money spent prior to execution

Pros and Cons JEUDY François - VENCE Eric Pros Pros Family’s mourning Family’s mourning An eye for an eye An eye for an eye Cons Cons Prevent mistakes Prevent mistakes Doesn’t reduce criminal rates Doesn’t reduce criminal rates

Debate JEUDY François - VENCE Eric « Capital punishment: Them without the capital get the punishment » John Spenkelink's last word at his electrocution, May 25, 1979 « An eye for an eye and everyone goes blind » Mahatma Gandhi

Thank You VENCE Eric - JEUDY François