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Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Death penalty: 34 states permit executions
By Kavan Peterson, Stateline.org Staff Writer
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 (Please see updated backgrounder, Death penalty: Lethal injection on trial, as well as coverage of current lethal-injection moratorium: Supreme Court stops Mississippi execution and Lethal injection moratorium inches closer)
By every measure, the death penalty in the United States has been declining steadily since executions peaked in 1999, and the trend likely will continue in 2005.Plummeting crime rates and recent revelations of innocent men being sentenced to death have eroded public support for capital punishment. Since the 1970s, 119 people in 25 states have been released from death row based on new exculpatory evidence, including two dozen in the past three years. Death sentences have dropped by 54 percent and executions by 40 percent since 1999, with significant reductions in all states that allow capital punishment, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit group that has been critical of capital punishment in practice. Several recent court decisions also have narrowed the scope of the death penalty. The U.S. Supreme Court outlawed the execution of juveniles in March, sparing the lives of 72 juvenile offenders waiting on death row nationwide. This was the high court's first decision on the death penalty since 2002, when it banned the execution of the severely retarded.  At the state level, death penalty statutes in New York and Kansas were ruled unconstitutional by those states' high courts in 2004, and executions have been suspended in Illinois by a moratorium and in New Jersey by a temporary injunction by the state's high court. That leaves 34 states currently permitting executions.
In New York, the Democrat-controlled state Assembly defeated an attempt to reinstate the death penalty on April 12, 2005, making New York the first state to abandon the death penalty since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976. This action, which came just 10 years after the state legalized capital punishment, put New York at the forefront of a list of states where politicians have stepped away from supporting capital punishment. Death Penalty Timeline
(Links to U.S. Supreme Court decisions provided by Cornell Law School's Supreme Court Collection)  1972 - Furman v. Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court effectively voids 40 state death penalty statutes and suspends capital punishment, ruling that death sentences are handed down arbitrarily, violating the Eighth Amendment prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishment."
1976 - Gregg v. Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court allows states to rewrite their death penalty statutes. Florida reinstates the death penalty within five months, followed shortly by 34 other states. Kansas and New York reinstate the death penalty in 1994 and 1995, respectively. 1977 - Gary Gilmore is executed by firing squad in Utah on Jan.17 - first person executed since death penalty was reinstated. 1977 - Oklahoma becomes the first state to adopt lethal injection as a means of execution. 1977 - Coker v. Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court prohibits executions for rape when the victim is not killed. 1986 - Ford v. Wainwright: U.S. Supreme Court rules that execution of the mentally insane is unconstitutional. 1988 - Thompson v. Oklahoma: U.S. Supreme Court rules that execution of offenders who were 15 or younger at the time of their crime is unconstitutional. 1989 - Stanford v. Kentucky, and Wilkins v. Missouri: U.S. Supreme Court rules that Eighth Amendment does not prohibit the death penalty for crimes committed at age 16 or 17. 1989 - Penry v. Lynaugh: U.S. Supreme Court rules that executing mentally retarded people does not violate the Eighth Amendment. 2000 - Illinois Gov. George Ryan orders moratorium on executions and appoints commission to study flaws in the state's death penalty system. 2002 - Ring v. Arizona: U.S. Supreme Court rules that juries, not judges, should decide sentence of death. 2002 - Atkins v. Virginia: U.S. Supreme Court reverses its 1989 decision in Penry v. Lynaugh and prohibits execution of the severely retarded based on the Eighth Amendment. 2003 - Illinois Gov. George Ryan commutes death sentences of all 167 inmates on the state's death row before leaving office in January. 2004 - New York's death penalty statute declared unconstitutional by state's highest court in June. Kansas Supreme Court voids its death penalty law in December. 2005 - Roper v. Simmons - U.S. Supreme Court, reversing its 1989 decision, rules March 1 that executing juvenile offenders who were under 18 at the time of their crimes is unconstitutional. |
Legislation aimed at either repealing the death penalty or imposing moratoriums on executions has been introduced in at least two dozen states in 2005. Only proposals in Connecticut and New Mexico have come to a vote, and both were narrowly defeated. North Carolina lawmakers are actively considering a bill that would impose a moratorium on executions and establish a commission to investigate the state's death penalty system. The legislation was introduced in response to the recent exonerations of five death row inmates. In New Jersey, where the court ordered state corrections officials to change the way lethal injections are administered, Acting Gov. Richard Codey (D) has called on the state Legislature to pass a moratorium against executions. Illinois' moratorium, the only one in the country, was imposed by former Gov. George Ryan, a Republican, in 2000. Ryan sparked a national furor when he commuted the death sentences of all 167 Illinois inmates on death row before leaving office in 2003, citing a state investigation that uncovered police corruption and racial bias in the state's capital punishment system. The Illinois Legislature has passed several reform measures intended to persuade current Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich to lift the moratorium, but he has said the system is far from fixed. These events follow a trend by lawmakers and the judiciary over the past 30 years to narrow the scope of the death penalty by tightening state sentencing statutes and banning the execution of specific groups of people, including the mentally insane, severely retarded and juvenile defendants. However, a majority of Americans still support executions as the ultimate punishment, and the nation as a whole is far from abolishing the death penalty. Constitutional experts say the current U.S. Supreme Court is unlikely to accept any cases seeking to overturn the death penalty system. Although executions are rare at the federal level, the Clinton and Bush administrations have greatly expanded the potential use of capital punishment for some drug and terrorism crimes. And former U.S. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft directed his prosecutors to seek the death penalty in many cases, sometimes overruling local prosecutors who had decided against it. At the state and local level, many prosecutors, victims' advocates and lawmakers remain staunch supporters of the death penalty, which they view as a necessary and effective deterrent to crime. Kansas officials are appealing the state court decision against their death penalty system in federal courts. Bills to reinstate the death penalty have been introduced this year in many of the 12 states that lack it, including in Hawaii and Iowa, although neither of those bills came up for a vote. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) has pledged to propose legislation this year to reinstate the death penalty there. Romney commissioned a task force of forensic and legal experts last year to craft a statute that would execute only those killers whose guilt is not in doubt. The commission issued 10 recommendations to safeguard against wrongful convictions, including imposing stricter requirements for scientific evidence, such as DNA and fingerprints, and raising the bar for a death penalty sentence from the normal legal standard of guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt" to a finding of "no doubt about the defendant's guilt." This "Backgrounder" is a work in progress and will be updated as warranted. You can find a great deal of information on the death penalty, including statistics, reports, analysis and commentary, on the following Web sites. Stateline.org will list other helpful resources as we find them. The Death Penalty Information Center
A nonprofit group funded by grants and private contributions, provides a wealth of facts and statistics, issues reports critical of the death penalty. ProDeathPenalty.com
A Web site maintained by Justice For All, an advocacy group lobbying for victims' rights and funded by private and corporate membership, tracks death penalty related issues and legislation. Go to its Death Penalty Links page for comprehensive links to dozens of related Web sites. National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Created in 1976 after the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty and funded by private donations and grants, NCADP supports grassroots lobbying against capital punishment. Its Web site provides news and statistics, also tracks pending executions. 1000+ Death Penalty Links
Large collection of death penalty links compiled on the Web site of Steven D. Stewart, the prosecuting attorney for Clark County, Ind., who supports the death penalty.
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Send your comments on this story to letters@stateline.org. Selected reader feedback will be posted in the Letters to the editor section.
Contact Kavan Peterson at kpeterson@stateline.org.
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Most Recent Comments
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How I feel about the death penalty
By Kiahna Sabato on Jan 14, 2010 12:45:50 PM
I have in between feelings regarding the death penalty. I believe that if someone commits a crime they should be punished in prision, but at the same time if they commit mulitple murderous crimes why should they only get put in jail? That's when I feel it's ok for them to get the death penalty. The murderer should've thought about the melancholy emotions the victims family would have over their death before killing them. I believe the selfishness of killing a person is what executes them more so than the murdering...if that makes any sense. Does it? This is an interesting topic to discuss. I was having a very engaging conversation with my friends about this and we all agreed that tghe death penalty is too brutal a punishment.
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Death Penalty
By Ken Adams on Oct 7, 2009 4:05:07 PM
I was once a firm believer in the death penalty until I met a young man on death row in Texas. His name is Michael James Perry and he was convicted of capital murder in 2003. I have been investigating Michael's case for over 2 years and I have no doubt in my mind that he is completely innocent. The problem I have with the death penalty is that there are no do overs. Once you execute an individual, you cannot come back and say you're sorry and that we made a mistake. If this country insists on having this form of barbaric punishment, then the burdon of proof needs to be raised to "beyond a shodow of a doubt" not"reasonable doubt. The expense to tax payers is incedible when it comes to trying these people and the appellate process is agonizing for the inmate and the family of the victims. I would like to see the death penalty abolished in the U.S. forever and let the monsters in this world rot in prison until God decides where they should go.
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An Eye For An Eye?
By Tiffany Fox-Burchett on Oct 2, 2009 4:22:46 AM
Although it seems fair, is it right? Rather it be in God's eyes or man's, is it right?
Like others before me have said, the victims' families get to think about what if for the remainder of their lives, thinking everyday of their lost loved ones. By killing the murderers, their trials and everything else along with them (evidence, witnesses, time, etc.) was in vain. But by leaving these sick, twisted minds to rot in a small prison cell for the rest of their lives, gives hope. Hope that maybe one day, they will wake up and realize, deep down in their hearts, that what they did was wrong. And even if they can't get out, at least in their hearts and minds, and souls, they can be at peace when Judgement day comes. FOr who are we to judge them? A sin is a sin, no matter its size or multitude. In fact, I believe, to judge others is a sin in itself! No one should judge but God! He is the creator, he is the one who knows all. We know nothing, so how can we judge? Yes, these people have been deemed not fit for our society, and I have no objection to them being in prison and away from civilization and such, I wouldn't want anyone near my children who could harm them. I may seem like Im contradicting myself, and perhaps I am. BUt my point is this, the Death Penalty is MURDER. America is trying to punish these murderers with more crime... If it's not okay for them to do it, why is it ok for the Government to??
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Reply to "christy rocks"
By Brittany Peterson on Sep 23, 2009 2:27:31 PM
Quoting only from the First Testament gets you nowhere. You've forgotten Jesus Christ's sacrafice, and that all people are forgiven through Him. Also talks about the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
If you would like to be sentenced to death even if you were innocent (and perhaps guilty), you ahead. They should be put under God's wrath, not ours. All sins are equal, no?
I suppose I'm just saying that we should think twice before making judgements on others when we have sins of our own to tend to.
The death penalty is unnesscary.
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the bible and facts...
By Brian Rios on Sep 17, 2009 8:50:08 AM
It it a difficult subject. There are people who do deserve the death penalty, however, do they actually deserve to get off so easy?
Believe me, if I were going to prison, and had the choice, 30 yrs locked up, or death penalty... I'd opt for the death penalty.
I do believe that someone who hurts another willingly deserves the exact same pain. however someone who kills someone, well, if they kill 10 people 5 people or 100 people, they can only be punished once for the crime with the death penalty. however stick them in a cell with no windows, and 6' x 6' x 6' wide, tall, and deep, completely solitary for the rest of their miserable life, they are paying for their crimes for each day one of their victims do not get to live. an eye for an eye. the victims family will spend the rest of their lives thinking about that person every day. the murdurer should too.
now as far as you people saying things about knowing the facts before mentioning the bible, well...
if they knew the facts, the bible would never be mentioned. How many TRUE FACTS are written in the bible? just because someone tells you its true and you have to believe it or you burn forever, does not make it true. I mean it's a good book, if you like to read about mythology and such. Maybe if in one of the times it was re written by whatever king was in charge at the moment, changing the context to fit what he wanted everyone to fear, had he decided to mention something about dinosaurs, or other religions that were around centuries before any kind of christianity, someone like me, may just give it a second thought. but too late, people like me believe what has been proven, and what we can see with our own two eyes.
what i believe is a torturer deserves to be tortured. by tortured, i mean, the small solitary cell i mentioned above. what could be worse than spending the remaining years of his life alone stewing over the cruelty he imposed on others?
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The seventh annual Hal Hovey Award was presented Feb. 3 to Marc Perrusquia, an enterprise and investigative reporter for The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis Tenn. The award is made jointly by Stateline.org, which is part of the Pew Center on the States, and Governing Magazine for outstanding coverage of state and local government. | |
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By Kiahna Sabato on Jan 14, 2010 12:45:50 PM
I have in between feelings regarding the death penalty. I believe that if someone commits a crime they should be punished in prision, but at the same time if they commit mulitple murderous crimes why should they only get put in jail? That's when I feel it's ok for them to get the death penalty. The murderer should've thought about the melancholy emotions the victims family would have over their death before killing them. I believe the selfishness of killing a person is what executes them more so than the murdering...if that makes any sense. Does it? This is an interesting topic to discuss. I was having a very engaging conversation with my friends about this and we all agreed that tghe death penalty is too brutal a punishment.
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Death Penalty
By Ken Adams on Oct 7, 2009 4:05:07 PM
I was once a firm believer in the death penalty until I met a young man on death row in Texas. His name is Michael James Perry and he was convicted of capital murder in 2003. I have been investigating Michael's case for over 2 years and I have no doubt in my mind that he is completely innocent. The problem I have with the death penalty is that there are no do overs. Once you execute an individual, you cannot come back and say you're sorry and that we made a mistake. If this country insists on having this form of barbaric punishment, then the burdon of proof needs to be raised to "beyond a shodow of a doubt" not"reasonable doubt. The expense to tax payers is incedible when it comes to trying these people and the appellate process is agonizing for the inmate and the family of the victims. I would like to see the death penalty abolished in the U.S. forever and let the monsters in this world rot in prison until God decides where they should go.
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An Eye For An Eye?
By Tiffany Fox-Burchett on Oct 2, 2009 4:22:46 AM
Although it seems fair, is it right? Rather it be in God's eyes or man's, is it right?
Like others before me have said, the victims' families get to think about what if for the remainder of their lives, thinking everyday of their lost loved ones. By killing the murderers, their trials and everything else along with them (evidence, witnesses, time, etc.) was in vain. But by leaving these sick, twisted minds to rot in a small prison cell for the rest of their lives, gives hope. Hope that maybe one day, they will wake up and realize, deep down in their hearts, that what they did was wrong. And even if they can't get out, at least in their hearts and minds, and souls, they can be at peace when Judgement day comes. FOr who are we to judge them? A sin is a sin, no matter its size or multitude. In fact, I believe, to judge others is a sin in itself! No one should judge but God! He is the creator, he is the one who knows all. We know nothing, so how can we judge? Yes, these people have been deemed not fit for our society, and I have no objection to them being in prison and away from civilization and such, I wouldn't want anyone near my children who could harm them. I may seem like Im contradicting myself, and perhaps I am. BUt my point is this, the Death Penalty is MURDER. America is trying to punish these murderers with more crime... If it's not okay for them to do it, why is it ok for the Government to??
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Reply to "christy rocks"
By Brittany Peterson on Sep 23, 2009 2:27:31 PM
Quoting only from the First Testament gets you nowhere. You've forgotten Jesus Christ's sacrafice, and that all people are forgiven through Him. Also talks about the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
If you would like to be sentenced to death even if you were innocent (and perhaps guilty), you ahead. They should be put under God's wrath, not ours. All sins are equal, no?
I suppose I'm just saying that we should think twice before making judgements on others when we have sins of our own to tend to.
The death penalty is unnesscary.
Report as Offensive
the bible and facts...
By Brian Rios on Sep 17, 2009 8:50:08 AM
It it a difficult subject. There are people who do deserve the death penalty, however, do they actually deserve to get off so easy?
Believe me, if I were going to prison, and had the choice, 30 yrs locked up, or death penalty... I'd opt for the death penalty.
I do believe that someone who hurts another willingly deserves the exact same pain. however someone who kills someone, well, if they kill 10 people 5 people or 100 people, they can only be punished once for the crime with the death penalty. however stick them in a cell with no windows, and 6' x 6' x 6' wide, tall, and deep, completely solitary for the rest of their miserable life, they are paying for their crimes for each day one of their victims do not get to live. an eye for an eye. the victims family will spend the rest of their lives thinking about that person every day. the murdurer should too.
now as far as you people saying things about knowing the facts before mentioning the bible, well...
if they knew the facts, the bible would never be mentioned. How many TRUE FACTS are written in the bible? just because someone tells you its true and you have to believe it or you burn forever, does not make it true. I mean it's a good book, if you like to read about mythology and such. Maybe if in one of the times it was re written by whatever king was in charge at the moment, changing the context to fit what he wanted everyone to fear, had he decided to mention something about dinosaurs, or other religions that were around centuries before any kind of christianity, someone like me, may just give it a second thought. but too late, people like me believe what has been proven, and what we can see with our own two eyes.
what i believe is a torturer deserves to be tortured. by tortured, i mean, the small solitary cell i mentioned above. what could be worse than spending the remaining years of his life alone stewing over the cruelty he imposed on others?
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By elizabeth jensen on Feb 17, 2009 1:23:58 PM
i believe the death penalty is one of the best thing this country has, let those die a horrible death like gas chamber or electricution for taking the inisant lives of others. exspecially the ones who took lives of children they are sick in the head and the do not deserve to live in this world. and what if the death penalty gets abolished then serial killers serve alittle time and get out then they do it again, it's like slappin them on the hand and saying don't do that again thats naughty and you'll get put back in prison , but to some people prison isn't that bad because you get 3 meals a day and a warm bed to sleep in then you can lift weights all day or read and its not a bad life. also people should think about that before saying its wrong to legally kill a criminal because God Said thou Shall Not Kill well guess what they did. so for all you bible folks im not against God I love him with all my heart but you need to get all your facts straight before you bring in the bible.
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I believe in the death penalty for extreme cases with overwhelming evidence
By Charles Warner on Nov 26, 2008 5:58:39 PM
I believe the death penalty is appropriate, however I also believe that it should only be used in extreme cases of multiple murders. Perhaps there should be set criteria for when the death penalty is used. I'm sure there probably is of course. However my concern is that it is used in cases of multiple murders (possibly also extremely gruesome murder).
Also in my opinion, it should only be in cases where there is substantial evidence supporting the prosecution and not just circumstantial evidence. If it is done right, then one would think that every safeguard is in place to protect a potentially innocent person from the death penalty. That would be my biggest concern is not executing someone convicted of only circumstantial evidence. You need indisputable evidence and perhaps multiple linked murders.
Killing is wrong no matter who does it. However if someone is willing to unjustifiably take someone elses life, they should be willing to pay the price with their own! It's not revenge, I believe it's paying the price for your crime.
What about the lives of all the innocent victims taken so viciously by these criminal killers. At least the killers don't have to go through all the torture and torment they probably put their victims through.
So if the death row inmate feels scared about being put to death, they should have thought about that before they committed their crimes. Price to pay for taking other peoples' civil rights and lives away.
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In response to Paula Collins
By christy rocks on Sep 22, 2008 11:14:34 PM
If you are going to make quotes from the Bible, you need to read the Bible and know what you are talking about. Yes the 6th Commandment is Thou Shalt Not Kill or Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder (depending on the version used), however God said in Genesis 9:6
6. Whoever sheds man's blood,By man his blood shall be shed,For in the image of God He made man.
or how about; Exodus 21:12-14
12. He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
13. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but (C)God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.
14. If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.
I could keep going, but I think you get the point, before you quote God, Know God's word and the meaning behind it.
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Death Peanlty
By Paula Collins on Apr 23, 2008 1:39:29 PM
The death penalty is a brutal act that does not enhance respect for human life; it cheapens and degrades it.The people are demanding the death penalty as if it were a quick solution to a complex problem, when in fact it is no solution at all, but merely a case of public revenge and a scapegoat.Most of all the death penalty is against the law not man's law,but God's Law- #6 of the Ten Commandment Thou shall not kill.if we judge people to die, how will God judge us for trying to play him. the raft of the lord is for more greater than man.
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maybe you should get your facts straight.
By Courtney Whizzle on Apr 14, 2008 4:36:15 PM
In actuality it costs the government about 3 million more in court fees and appeals to actually execute someone than it takes to keep them in prison for 75 years which is the average life span. so yea. no argument for the death penalty being cheaper, sorry charlie.
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DEATH PENALTY
By Jazzmen Pierce on Mar 28, 2008 9:43:24 AM
I am not for the death penalty in the U.S and i really don't think that any of the states should have it. It maybe my personal oppinion but when you really think about it your really waisting your time because eventually when the criminal is in jail there either goiong to die or kill themselves which to me is even worse okay big deal they did something wrong. But the real question is did they do it? Was it really them? Or was it an obsuption of a person seeing something that they wanted to believe because they didn't like that person, or they really didn't no that man or woman and they looked suspicious and they just wanted that person to get into some trouble because what that person said to them or did to them for revenge its just ridiculous its people in prison now off of here say and because there lawyer wasn't doing that good of a job.
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Death Penalty
By amy ruimveld on Mar 9, 2008 5:07:17 PM
I've been researching all aspects of the death penalty for about five months now, so I'd like to say I'm well educated on the matter. I am opposed to it in all ways. See, nowadays, we've discovered that lethal injections are actually creaing "invisible pain," which in my opinion, is considered cruel and unusual. Also, I know the Bible says, "an eye for an eye," but it also says in the Ten Commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Kill." And our nation is saying, "If you kill one of us, we'll kill one of you." Also, data as shown that capital punishment is sentenced somewhat biasedly. Also, Europe is looking down on us. A politician from Europe said that he hoped our nation would join the rest of the civilized world, and abandon capital punishment. So, obivously, the death penatly isn't exactly the best thing for our nation.
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the death penalty
By Shayla metcalf on Mar 3, 2008 11:54:56 PM
It is so wrong no matter what the crime is to take a chance with a person's life. What would happen if the person is innocent. I believe if that is the case then the jury the judge and everyone involved with the murder of the innocent man should have to serve life in prison because that would then be a planned first degree murder. The death penalty is no accident it is a well planned out murder. I do not understand how any of the U.S. can do such a horrible crime. Our government has a bigger problem than killers. How can we honor and respect our killing government.
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death penalty
By Tina Schendel on Dec 17, 2007 3:27:09 PM
"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."
I, personally, do not believe in the dealth penalty, I do not believe it is moral or ethical to put someone to death. Regardless of the crime they commit, regardless of who they kill or rape. I do not wish death upon anyone. Who is the United States government to take someone else's life? In such a "free" nation...in a nation that's trying to teach us how to NOT be violent....here we are, our own teachers, saying one thing and doing another.
"No one who looks through this glass sees a person, they see a crime, I'm not David Gale, I'm a murderer and a rapist three days shy of execution."
A violent criminal is still a person, and while I don't believe we should continue to let him or her roam the streets picking off everyone one by one..I don't believe we should have any right to kill them. To take their life.
America, a nation bred on hypocrisy.
Killing to prove that killing is wrong.
I respect all of your opinions, but to the lady that stated if we take the dealth penalty away suddenly everyone will be killing eachother because no one will believe there's a punishment....
I live in Wisconsin, where five of the safest cities to live in are located. We do not have the death penalty.
When someone kills someone....there is not something right upstairs, that person is sick. I'm not running around killing people because we don't have a death penalty here. And I'd sure hope that you wouldn't be either....
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Death penalty
By Tyler Muller on Dec 7, 2007 1:35:38 PM
i believe death penalty shouldn't be in effect because it is uncalled for and i thank Florida not having one.
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Death Penalty
By trish witte on Dec 4, 2007 8:21:06 PM
I was doing some research for a college class I have. I was reading peoples statements, I thought I'd leave one.
I personally do not believe in the Death Penalty. I think God put us here and he should be the only one to take us out. Even though some criminals take the lives of others and in some cases many, everything still happens for a reason. There are some people that get shot in the head and or heart, and still live, because it was not there time to go. There is a time and place for everything, and for someone to decide when another human dies is inhumane and wrong. I was reading and saw that in some states they have a firing squad as a death sentence. What the Hell?! Are they serious?! I do however, believe in being sentenced to life and then some in prison. Why give a human the freedom of death to forget about what he or she has done? They should sit there and go crazy thinking about their sins everyday. That would be Gods punishment to them.
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Capital Punishment is a necessity.
By Jarod M on Oct 2, 2007 2:42:19 PM
First let me ask a simple question: If the U.S. as a whole banned the Death Penalty, what results would we see? Well, I am convinced that as our justice system continues to invoke weaker and weaker punishments, we will see a continuous increase of crime. People live their lives thinking of the good and bad consequences of their actions. If I kidnap, rape, torture, and eventually murder a young child, I should expect to receive the maximum punishment allowed by my government. But instead, we think about the murderer's rights... WHY!?? I don't know, but I doubt there is a single 'pro-bono lawyer' out there who would defend someone who killed one of THEIR loved ones. I bet that would change their position.
To all who are thinking of that poor, poor, one-in-a-million innocent person on death row, first remember this: that person has already been through a VERY lengthy system of procedures required to sentence a person to death.
Also there are very few executions compared to murders. Since 1967, there has been one execution for every 1600 murders, or 0.06%. There have been approximately 560,000 murders and 358 executions from 1967-1996 FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR) & Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
All Capital Punishment opponents: don't oversimplify your thinking, executing a killer is not the same as murdering an innocent person. Are killing in self-defense and murder the same thing? Both result in the taking of life. But let's not dare say that the woman about to get raped and killed in her own home who pulls her gun and shoots the rapist/killer dead is the same kind of person as that rapist/killer. Okay? I think there are some obvious character differences.
One more thing. Releasing criminals just because they have served for years is not smart. It is very often true that released prisoners quickly return to prison for newly accrued crimes. Take Danny Rouse. In 1979 he stabbed a woman 12 times after she refused to have sex with him, then he went to her 5-year old son's room and slit his throat as he slept. He was paroled from prison 26 years later, and after 7 months of civilian life, he murdered his 16-year old Burger King co-worker Stephanie Faye Wagner and left her body in a field in Indiana, later to confess and lead police to the body. So, why don't we release more convicted killers?? Sounds good, huh? I don't think so.
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death penalty
By BRIAN PIKE on Aug 15, 2007 9:47:20 AM
I believe that the death penalty should be reserved for people who commit heinous crimes such as rape and murder or murder with mitigating factors. Also if the defendant is of the age where he/she is of the age where they understand the result of their actions. I do not believe that gender should be an issue in determing guilt or innocence but sometimes serves to prejudice a jury. There was a case in Illinois where Lloyd Schlup almost lost his life and was only mere hours from execution and was exonerated by DNA evidence. There have been others who, unfortunately have not fared as well. The killing of a human being is wrong but is it justified if a person takes another life? I believe in an eye for an eye but certain cases make me wonder if the penalty of death is a viable option. Maybe the states that have such penalties for heinous crimes should try to rehabilitate before they impose death upon said defendant. Then and only then, should death sentences be imposed.
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Death penalty is wrong
By Jessica Blacksmith on Jun 25, 2007 9:06:45 AM
How on earth are you meant to teach people that a human life is of value and that to take one is the most horrendous act possible (which it is)when the state kills people itself? It is like parents who tell their children not to smoke but do it themselves (the child will always follow the example not the verbal message.
Other reasons include:
1. It is always possible that the defendant is actually innocent. It could be you or a family member on the wrong side of the needle one day.
2. In monetary terms the appeals process is more costly than keeping a criminal behind bars.
3. It makes America look like a 3rd world nation (no other developed nation allows its citizens to be put to death). Perhaps some of that appeals process cash should be put into the healthcare system (which is also very poor compared to other economically developed nations).
4. I don't think it is right to stoop down to the terrible lows of a murderer.
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No one likes the Death Penalty
By Jeffrey Miller on Jun 14, 2007 12:12:27 PM
The eye for an eye quote is misunderstood. That level is not required as a commandment but The Almighty wants us to put a "Cap" on our vengeance. In anger, we (collectively) would hurt/injure and/or kill some one who has done a personal crime against us. The eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, is set out to RESTRAIN us as individuals from returning a judgment in excess of the injury.
With capital punishment, we have a situation where there is nothing greater we might do to a criminal. It is not an eye for an eye case. It can not restore the victims who, by the way, suffered the "death penalty" at the hands of the criminal without judge nor jury. Capital punishment is to try and offer justice to the victims and survivors. It can not restore them, but we can at least offer the victims the maximum penalty to the criminal as a measure of our desire to administer justice. It is demonstrating to the victim's family and all of us, that justice will prevail.
No one is desirous of a death penalty. We are reluctant to participate, but the criminal forced this to happen through their felony and murders. Alternatives such as incarceration are criminal centered not victim centered. It is the "Thin edge of the wedge," whereas should incarceration be the case, soon the extended incarceration will be called upon to be reduced.
The criminal has already executed a death penalty without restraint. With capital punishment, we are reluctantly forced to administer justice as best we can.
Center on the victims, already executed, and not the criminal, who is given due process.
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Violence
By R V on May 27, 2007 12:00:24 AM
I believe that most people are too quick to call for death. We live in a very violent society and while I am not saying the death penalty is the cure, it certainly is not the solution either. How do you show death is wrong? By killing? How can that ever be logical?
Since 1973, 125 people have been released from death row because they were found to be innocent. Has an innocent person ever been executed? I doubt we will ever know. Some reading this may think that the fact these individuals were found innocent proves our justice system works however it is because of the work of attorneys working pro bono for different innocent project organizations that many of these people have been set free. The government for most of these cases let the verdict stand without questioning it. So I ask anyone who may read this to please reconsider your pro-death thoughts because who knows it may be you on the guilty end of a verdict one day.
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Death Penatly!!
By Ashley Wilson on May 17, 2007 8:02:29 PM
I am for the Death penatly and I think that all States should have it. I also believe in an Eye-for-an-eye, if you kill someone then you should get killed the same way! Why should we keep these murders alive for years and years for killing our famliy members?! It makes no sense at all! We think that it is bad to kill ppl but we let them live?! We pay for them to live and in some causes for there education! This is only my views, this is what I happen believe.
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Death Sentence
By Kathleen Schlueter on Oct 18, 2006 6:16:57 PM
We can all point to situations where a person clearly has forfeited their right to live peacably among us: The Southside Strangler in Virginia, Ted Bundy, William Wayne Gacy - but the problem with the death penalty is that our system of justice is flawed. Sometimes we incarcerate the wrong person for the crime - we can barely give them back a decent life by letting them out of prison after so many years behind bars - but we could NEVER remedy the problem if we gave them the death penalty. There have been studies showing that the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory fashion - that black defendants are more likely to get a death sentence than white defendants. Because as Americans we view our liberty as the ultimate right, I submit that taking away a person's liberty for life is and should be viewed as the ultimate punishment. I have read studies that show it costs more to go through the death penalty appeals process than to house a convict for a life sentence. The death penalty should be abolished.
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Death Sentance!
By Roland Archambault Jr. on Oct 14, 2006 6:04:58 AM
I feel that this is a viable way to deal with certain types of people! Repeat offenders, child molesters, death of a police officer, any death that could be seen as unusually cruel and painful, and done just for the pleasure of doing so! As in the case of the Vermont student, who had her entire life in front of her, and did nothing to provoke this! To be buried in cement, which appears to be a planned event! But ONLY in cases where there is absolutely no doubt in who the Murderer is! This is my opinion, and seeing the age of such offenders, we could be wasting Tax Payers money to keep these people alive for up to atleast 70 or 80 years old! I've heard it costs the state in the neighborhood of $60,000.-- to $100,000 to keep these people alive per year! Why should we pay this much money to keep a KNOWN Convicted Murderer alive? Again, just my humble opinion, but with 34 states with the Death Penalty, it would appear that I am NOT alone in my thinking!!!
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