The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C, and since then there have been huge controversies surrounding the topic. The reasons why are clear: death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. New technologies have been created throughout the years to replace these methods, but many of them still remain cruel.
The death penalty in America was introduced by European settlers when they brought the practice of capital punishment. The first ever recorded execution in the colonies was that of George Kendall in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608. He faced execution because he was a spy for Spain, but even minor defenses like stealing grapes or killing chickens had the death penalty as a sentence.
Today, there are 29 states, including California, that still allow the death penalty to be used. The death penalty is only used for committing serious crimes. The last execution in California was in 2006. While there haven’t been any executions carried out since then, there are still 737 inmates on death row, which is about a quarter of the total death row inmates in the U.S. There are those who think the death penalty should be abolished, but there are others who think it isn’t used enough.
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ReplyDeleteThe death penalty is an old practice that is illogical in today's society. As more and more states get rid of the death penalty, it is surprising that California still maintains the practice. Because the justice system in America is plagued by injustice, the death penalty is no longer a reasonable punishment. If the central park 5 had been put on death row and executed, they would have been unjustly killed before they were proven innocent. Innocent people are wrongly incarcerated all the time but executing them is irreversible and unethical. The death penalty gives judges who are susceptible to things like bias and corruption the power to make life or death choices for other people.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that once one is found guilty WITH evidence, and considering the crime that was committed they should be executed. I find it pointless when I hear that people get 70+ years in prison. I remember sometimes when people get 100+ years, which is unnecessary and should just be put on death row. Most of the cases that lead up to extreme sentences, are heartbreaking and the justice they deserve is for the person to be killed.
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