Death Penalty By Steve Maugeri and Spencer Wiley

Quick Stats Capital Punishment, or the death penalty, is currently used in 58 of the 153 countries in the world. 60% of the world’s population live in countries than use the death penalty. As of April 1, 2008, capital punishment is authorized in 37 of the 50 states. Since 1976, there have been 1226 people executed in the US.

Pro Arguments Redemption for the victim’s family It lowers the crime rate in the world. “The Punishment is as severe as the crime”. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” There is a high recidivism rate in the US. The criminal feels the same pain as his/her victims.

Con Arguments It is considered “inhumane and cruel” It is harmful to the family of the criminal during the months leading up to their execution. People often say that that is against the 8 th amendment since it is considered cruel punishment. People say it takes away people’s right to life. There have been numerous botched executions over they years. There is no painless execution method.

Brief History The first death penalty laws were made back in the eighteenth century B.C in Babylon. The death penalty was a punishment for 25 different crimes. The laws began in America in 1612 when Sir Thomas Dale enacted the Divine, Moral, and Martial laws. Which provided the death penalty for simple crimes such as stealing grapes, killing chickens and trading with Indians.

Execution Methods The most common way of executing someone in the US is lethal injection where the criminal is injected with a substance that will numb them and put them to sleep during cardiac arrest. Other methods are the electric chair, hanging, firing squad, the gas chamber, and sometimes stoning.

Search Results The Death Penalty: Right or Wrong? The Death Penalty: Right or Wrong? 3 min - Feb 19, Uploaded by danraster Clip from "Death Penalty" clip with interviews youtube.com What's right about the death penalty? What's right about the death penalty? 1 min - Oct 1, Uploaded by ReprieveUK General statement from Clive Stafford Smith against the Death Penalty. Find out more: youtube.com