People have been humiliated, mutilated and killed -daily were atrocities in the name of the law commited. Reigns of terror invented methods, which brought the inhuman aspect in man to light. The victims suffered from unbelieveable pains. And still today there exist methods, which mean torture and pain for the offenders as well as for the victims - even in the USA. The history of capital punishment in the territory which is now known as the USA starts in the 17th Century, when the American colonies imposed the death sentence not only for 14 offenses as England prescribed it, but also for fewer crimes. The first known execution was of Daniel Frank. He was put to death in 1622 in the Colony of Virginia for the crime of theft.
In the 19th century politics and advances of technology influenced the use of the death penalty a lot. On August, 6, 1890 murderer William Kemmler was the first person, who has been executed in the electric chair. After a short-lived abolition movement which led to the repeat of numerous state death penalty statutes in 1900, Kansas was the first state who abolished capital punishment in 1907. Eight more states followed suit over the next 10 years. Then two sensational murder cases restarted the debate over the death penalty in the 1920s. As a result of this a time of death penalty support followed. For example two Italian immigrants were electrocuted in Massachusetts for two murders. Finally the peak of the U.S. executions was reached in the 1930s, averaging 167 a year.
The decline of executions in the 1960s was caused by growing doubts about the death penalty. That means that after Luis Jose Monge who died in the gas chamber at Colorado State Penitentiary, an unofficial moratorium on executions began.
The 1970s was an eventful decade for capital punishment. It first saw the death penalty canceled and then reinstated.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Chronology of Capital Punishment in the USA
- Recent Development
- The Offender
- Execution Methods
- Irrationally Committed Murder
- Poor Offenders - no good Lawyer
- Discrimination
- The Victims
- The People who Have close Contact with the Offenders on Death Row
- The Relatives of the Offender
- Attendants
- Spiritual Advisers
- Doctors
- Selection of Execution Witnesses
- Forgiveness and Grief
- The Death Penalty in Retaliation
- The State
- The Death Penalty vs. Human Rights
- The State's Aims Concerning the Death Penalty
- The Death-Penalty - Judicial Murder?
- The Death Penalty as Deterrence
- Functionalisation of the Death Penalty
- Problems of the Judicative
- The Public Opinion
- Judicial Room for Manoeuvre
- Without Parole vs. Death Penalty
- Conclusion - The Death Penalty: A View of Opposition
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This academic work examines the death penalty in the United States, providing a comprehensive analysis of its history, current practices, and ethical implications. It aims to critically evaluate the arguments surrounding capital punishment, including its potential deterring effects, the justice it provides to victims, and the impact on those involved in the execution process. The main themes covered include: * **The historical development of capital punishment in the USA**: From its origins in colonial America to the modern era, the paper explores the changing social and legal landscape surrounding the death penalty. * **The ethical considerations of the death penalty**: The work delves into the moral and philosophical arguments surrounding the death penalty, particularly its potential for cruelty and the right to life. * **The impact on offenders, victims, and society**: The paper examines the diverse perspectives of individuals directly affected by capital punishment, including the families of both the condemned and the victims. * **The role of the state in administering the death penalty**: The document investigates the judicial process, the public opinion, and the overall functioning of the death penalty system. * **The debate surrounding the death penalty as a deterrent**: This theme explores the effectiveness of capital punishment as a crime prevention strategy, contrasting the arguments for and against it.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter provides a detailed historical overview of capital punishment in the USA, tracing its evolution from the 17th century. It highlights the changing legal and social landscape, from the initial adoption of the death penalty in the colonies to its abolition in the 20th century and subsequent reinstatement. The chapter examines the influence of political shifts and technological advancements on the application and execution methods of capital punishment.
The second chapter focuses on the offender, analyzing the various aspects of their experience with the death penalty. It delves into the different execution methods employed, the challenges faced by those convicted of irrational crimes, and the potential for discrimination in the application of capital punishment. It also discusses the impact of inadequate legal representation on the outcome of cases.
The third chapter explores the perspectives of the victims and those closely connected to the offenders on death row. It examines the impact of the death penalty on the families of the condemned, the experiences of prison staff, spiritual advisors, and medical personnel involved in the process. It also discusses the selection of witnesses for executions and the complex emotions of forgiveness and grief experienced by the families of victims.
The fourth chapter examines the role of the state in administering the death penalty. It evaluates the legal and ethical arguments surrounding capital punishment, specifically its potential violation of human rights and its effectiveness as a deterrent. It explores the challenges faced by the judicial system in ensuring fairness and the influence of public opinion on the death penalty debate. It also examines the justifications for capital punishment, discussing its potential to function as a social control mechanism.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts addressed in this work include the history of capital punishment in the USA, the ethical considerations of the death penalty, the impact on offenders and victims, the role of the state in administering the death penalty, the debate surrounding the death penalty as a deterrent, and the challenges of ensuring fairness and justice in the judicial system.- Quote paper
- Monika Welzmüller (Author), 2000, The death penalty - legal cruelty, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/109738
