By: Alexa Marsicek

† Eighteenth century B.C. † First established death penalty laws † 1834 A.D. † Pennsylvania becomes the first state to move executions into correctional facilities † † Nine states eliminate the death penalty for all crimes or strictly limit it. † 1930’s † Executions reach the highest levels in American history-average 167 per year † 1977 † Oklahoma becomes the first state to adopt lethal injection † 1986 † Banning of the execution of insane persons † 1989 † Eighth Amendment does not prohibit the death penalty for crimes committed at age sixteen or seventeen † 2005 † The United States Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty for those who had committed crimes under 18 years of age is a cruel and unusual punishment.

Hanging Lethal Injection Electrocution Lethal Gas

Short Drop The prisoner usually was hung from a tree Was usually carried out in public Suspension Hanging Have hydraulic mechanisms for raising the prisoners Standard Drop Drop between 4 and 5 feet Many still died by strangulation Some were knocked unconscious Long Drop or Measured Drop Designed to break the prisoner’s neck at a pre-determined distance Removed most of the prisoner’s physical suffering Determined by the prisoner’s weight

Electrocution  First electric chair designed in 1888  Martha Place was the first woman to die in the electric chair  Second most common method of execution  Usually there are two shocks given and it lasts about 2 minutes and 10 seconds  Leather belts are strapped across the prisoner and a leather face mask is put on  10 electrocutions in the 21 st century

December 7 th 1982-first lethal injection Steps for execution… Strapped to a gurney Two catheters inserted into two veins on each arm Flushed with Heparin solution Three different chemicals are injected into each vein Sodium thiopental Pancuronium bromide Potassium chloride Takes about 3-5 minutes for the prisoner to die

Originally proposed by Dr. Allen McLean Hamilton Hydrogen cyanide gas is released into the chamber to kill the prisoner The prisoners die from hypoxia The effects of breathing this in are… Spasms Inability to breathe Pain and extreme anxiety Loss of consciousness after 1-3 minutes Death It takes an average of 9.3 minutes for the prisoner to die

Pros Lower crime levels (deterrents) Some people who are freed from death row are back in prison with new charges Lowers cost of prison population upkeep Murder Mistaken convictions Inhumane Cons

By: Alexa Marsicek

Willing, Richard. “Foes of Death Penalty Rising: Activists Gaining Unlikely Allies in…” USA Today (Feb. 1999) Shapiro, Joseph. “The Wrong Men on Death Row.” U.S. News & World Report (Nov. 1998)