4. Death Penalty

The death penalty, also called capital punishment, refers to the killing or execution of a person as punishment for a crime. Half ofthe countries in the world have abolished this form of punishment. About 30% of the countries in the world still use it as punishment for crimes such as murder and treason. Each year, a few more countries abolish the death penalty.

Capital punishment is used in 34 of the 50 states in the US. Does the word “capital” seem odd? This term comes from the Latin word for head. Long ago, capital punishment referred to cutting off a person’s head. In America, execution is now carried out by lethal injection.

While this method of killing is not as disturbing to watch, autopsies show that the injections are not always quick and painless. The procedure sometimes goes wrong, and the injections cause severe pain. Medical professionals are often required to assist in the executions. The UN has asked that all countries refrain from using this cruel and unusual form of punishment.

 Many opposed to the death penalty say that death rownis a form of torture. Death row is a section of a prison for those sentenced to death. Some inmates spend years waiting for their execution date. This happened to Manuel Valle, a Floridian man who killed a police officer. He spent 33 years on death row before being executed. How does death row differ from regular prison life? In some cases, prisoners spend their days in solitary confinement. They are not allowed to worship, exercise, or take part in group activities.

Amnesty International calls the death penalty the “ultimate denial of human rights”. In 2011, this human rights group defended an American prisoner named Troy Davis. Davis was convicted of killing a police officer, but many doubted the evidence. The executive director called this case a “catastrophic failure of the justice system.” Troy Davis maintained his innocence until the moment he died. 1000 people attended his funeral.

Statistics show that minorities are more likely to face capital punishment. Americans who murder a white male are at least three times more likely to be executed than those who kill a black male. In addition, those who can’t afford a good lawyer are more likely to face the death penalty. Studies also show that capital punishment does not deter criminals. Would you believe that a death penalty sentence costs tax payers more than a sentence of life imprisonment? Some people think the death penalty is a less severe sentence than life in prison with no chance of parole.

Source: http://media.wix.com/ugd/243e9e_96336d6d5fd04336a87cf2d15ce404df.pdf