The death penalty has changed throughout history- everything from ages of people who can be executed, places where it is and isn’t legal, and the actual method of execution itself. Instead of it being universally accepted like before, it is protested and some abolitionists have been successful in banning it in certain places.
Why was it so popular in history but now people try to stop it- are people of this generation more compassionate? Why do some places continue to execute children? Is there a connection between race and people who are executed?
Throughout history, the death penalty has been implemented all over the world. Stonings, hangings, beheadings- all forms of executions, and hundreds of years ago, all forms of entertainment. In Elizabethan times, beheadings were attended by everyone, upper and lower class. The lower class people even brought food along to the public spectacle (Elizabethan Crime and Punishment). In colonial times, hangings were also public events (History of the Death Penalty). Now, however, our society has evolved to a place where death is no longer considered something of entertainment.
Although the execution children under eighteen is illegal in the United States, some countries continue to do it. Since 1990, eight-one documented children have been executed all over the world-not to say that many aren’t executed and no one finds out. Even in America, almost a hundred people under eighteen are on death row, waiting until they turn eighteen and can legally be executed. Many of the countries who execute children do it just as they would for adults, and these cases that are documented show that some of these children are only thirteen or fourteen (Execution of Juvenile Offenders).
Many people have made the accusation that more black people are executed than white people. However, extensive studies show that while in the past this may have been a factor, it no longer plays a role in the death penalty. Since 1976, 56% of defendants were white, whereas only 35% were black (Death Penalty Info). These statistics prove that more white people have been executed that not only African Americans but other races as well.
After completing this research, I did find a lot of answers to my questions. I learned more about the history of the death penalty and how it has changed over time. I found out more information on the legal and illegal execution of minors. I also saw legitimate statistics that back up the theory that racism plays no role in who is executed and who isn’t.
1)"Elizabethan Crime and Punishment." Elizabethan Era. 16 May 2005. Web. 26 May 2010.
2)"National Statistics on Death Penalty and Race." Death Penalty Information Center.
1 July 2009. Web. 26 May 2010.
3)"Execution of Juvenile Offenders." Amnesty International. 2007. Web. 18 May 2010.
4)"History of the Death Penalty." Anti Death Penalty. 2004. Web. 18 May 2010.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
History of the Death Penalty
1. The first person to be sentenced to death in America was in 1608.
2. In 1612, the death penalty was used on people who committed small crimes, such as stealing food.
3. In colonial times, hangings were used as a public form of entertainment. When someone was to be hung, families gathered together and even brough food to witness it.
4. Adultery used to be punishable by death.
5. In 1767, attempts to abolish the death penalty were started.
6. Thomas Jefferson tried to change the law so that only murder and treason recieved the death penalty.
7. In 1834, New York and Pennsylvania abolished public executions.
8. In 1853, Wisconsin was the first state to completely abolished the death penalty completely.
9. From 1920-1940, criminologists followed the belief that the death penalty is necessary to keep society together.
10. After 1950, most of Europe abolished the death penalty.
2. In 1612, the death penalty was used on people who committed small crimes, such as stealing food.
3. In colonial times, hangings were used as a public form of entertainment. When someone was to be hung, families gathered together and even brough food to witness it.
4. Adultery used to be punishable by death.
5. In 1767, attempts to abolish the death penalty were started.
6. Thomas Jefferson tried to change the law so that only murder and treason recieved the death penalty.
7. In 1834, New York and Pennsylvania abolished public executions.
8. In 1853, Wisconsin was the first state to completely abolished the death penalty completely.
9. From 1920-1940, criminologists followed the belief that the death penalty is necessary to keep society together.
10. After 1950, most of Europe abolished the death penalty.
The Death Penalty in the US
1. The death penalty is authorized in 37 states.
2. As of 2008, 3,263 people were on death row in the US.
3. 57% of death row inmates were white.
4. 34% were african american.
5. Only 11 women have been executed since 1976.
6. There have been a total of 4,958 executions in the US since 1930.
7. As of January 1, 2008, 3,350 convicted murderers
were awaiting execution on Death Row in the US.
8. 98.2% were men.
9. 1.8% were women.
10. 14% of death row inmates had accumulated more than one death sentence.
2. As of 2008, 3,263 people were on death row in the US.
3. 57% of death row inmates were white.
4. 34% were african american.
5. Only 11 women have been executed since 1976.
6. There have been a total of 4,958 executions in the US since 1930.
7. As of January 1, 2008, 3,350 convicted murderers
were awaiting execution on Death Row in the US.
8. 98.2% were men.
9. 1.8% were women.
10. 14% of death row inmates had accumulated more than one death sentence.
Executions of Juvenile Offenders
1. It is illegal to execute anyone under the age of 18.
2. However, some countries continue to execute juvenile offenders.
3. The number of children executed is very small.
4. Children are protected from the death penalty under the international human rights law.
5. Since 1990, 81 children have been executed all over the world.
6. In October 2002, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights wrote a paper examining the conclusion that child offenders cannot be put to death.
7. There are 113 countries that support the death penalty but prohibit its use on children.
8. Since 1990 Amnesty International has documented executions of child offenders in seven countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Yemen.
9. Since 1994 five countries have changed their laws to eliminate the use of the death penalty against child offenders.
10. As of August 2002, fifteen states were holding a total of 82 child offenders on death row.
2. However, some countries continue to execute juvenile offenders.
3. The number of children executed is very small.
4. Children are protected from the death penalty under the international human rights law.
5. Since 1990, 81 children have been executed all over the world.
6. In October 2002, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights wrote a paper examining the conclusion that child offenders cannot be put to death.
7. There are 113 countries that support the death penalty but prohibit its use on children.
8. Since 1990 Amnesty International has documented executions of child offenders in seven countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Yemen.
9. Since 1994 five countries have changed their laws to eliminate the use of the death penalty against child offenders.
10. As of August 2002, fifteen states were holding a total of 82 child offenders on death row.
Death Penalty and Sentencing Information by Dudley Sharp
1. 37% of death row cases have been overturned since 1973 due to appeals.
2. 69 innocent death row members have been released since 1973.
3. There is no proof that an innocent person has been executed since 1900.
4. Opponents of the death penalty say that 23 innocent people have been executed. However, this has never been proven.
5. A main strategy of death penalty opponents is using propaganda to provoke race and class issues.
6. In 1994, the average education level of death row inmates was 12th grade.
7. The ratio of men to women on death row and executed is 68:1.
8. There are at least 28 procedures necessary in reaching a death sentence.
9. To recieve the death penalty, each of the 12 jurors must agree with the prosecution in each of five specific areas.
10. Most Christian leaders in America have released statements opposing the death penalty.
2. 69 innocent death row members have been released since 1973.
3. There is no proof that an innocent person has been executed since 1900.
4. Opponents of the death penalty say that 23 innocent people have been executed. However, this has never been proven.
5. A main strategy of death penalty opponents is using propaganda to provoke race and class issues.
6. In 1994, the average education level of death row inmates was 12th grade.
7. The ratio of men to women on death row and executed is 68:1.
8. There are at least 28 procedures necessary in reaching a death sentence.
9. To recieve the death penalty, each of the 12 jurors must agree with the prosecution in each of five specific areas.
10. Most Christian leaders in America have released statements opposing the death penalty.
Racial and Geographic Disparities in Ohio Executions
1. Ohio has executed the most people in the past two years in the United States, except Texas.
2. Since 1999, Ohio has executed 38 people.
3. In the South, race seems to play a role in who is executed.
4. In 75% of execution cases, the murder victims were white.
5. In Ohio, about 65% of murder victims are black, however, a considerably smaller amount of those cases result in executions.
6. Out of 57 victims in cases resulting in an execution, only 11 were black.
7. None of the 38 executions there had a white defedant who murdered a black victim.
8. 7 black defendants have been executed after murdering a white person.
9. Another thing that plays a role in Ohio's executions is geography.
10. The main places the death penalty has been implemented in Ohio are only 3 counties: Hamilton, Cuyahoga, and Summit- only 23.4% of the states population.
2. Since 1999, Ohio has executed 38 people.
3. In the South, race seems to play a role in who is executed.
4. In 75% of execution cases, the murder victims were white.
5. In Ohio, about 65% of murder victims are black, however, a considerably smaller amount of those cases result in executions.
6. Out of 57 victims in cases resulting in an execution, only 11 were black.
7. None of the 38 executions there had a white defedant who murdered a black victim.
8. 7 black defendants have been executed after murdering a white person.
9. Another thing that plays a role in Ohio's executions is geography.
10. The main places the death penalty has been implemented in Ohio are only 3 counties: Hamilton, Cuyahoga, and Summit- only 23.4% of the states population.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Multigenre Research Design
1)What is your topic?
- My topic is the death penalty. It is a widely debated issue with many people who believe both sides. Some people feel that the death penalty is wrong no matter what. Others feel that some crimes people commit are only punishable by death. I chose the topic to learn more about the death penalty itself and what types of situations it is used in.
2)Describe what you know about the topic.
- I know that the death penalty is not legal in all the states. It is practiced around the world more freely. People usually recieve the death penalty for commiting murder. Also, many people wait on death row for years here in America, and appeals prevent them from ever having to go through with it. Lawyers usually drag the process of appeals out until the prisoner has died of natural causes. Prisoners who face the death penalty live in seperate jails than other prisoners.
3)Tell what you want to learn about.
- I want to learn more about what kind of people recieve the death penalty. I also want to know the types of crimes besides murder that can get the death penalty. Is it only murder or things like rape? Does death have to be involved for the criminal to be executed? I'd like to know the number of criminals who are actually executed.
I would also like to learn about both sides of the debate more, and the evidence that they support it with. Since I don't really have an opinion I'm open to seeing both sides of the argument and making a decision from there. I also want to learn where the death penalty is legal and illegal. I want to see how other countries view it, and which ones practice it and which ones forbid it. I also want to learn about cases where capital punishment was implemented and form my own opinion on whether it was right or wrong.
4)Describe the origins of your research. What sparked your interest in the topic? Why do you want to know more about it?
- My interest was sparked on this because of a few things I've seen and heard in the past few years. I read a book called The Innocent Man by John Grisham a few summers ago. It was a true story based on a man who was facing the death penalty for raping and murdering a young waitress. However, he turns out to be innocent and mentally handicapped. He spent the majority of his life in jail waiting to die, and it turned out he only got to spend a few years out of prison before he died from getting sick.
Another thing that made me interested in the death penalty was something I studied when I did a psychology project on psychopaths. I learned about multiple serial killers who had been executed throughout history. One case in particular was about a woman serial killer who killed and robbed seven truck drivers and was executed a few years later. As I researched these stories, there were many articles written about how psychopaths should just be executed because that's the only way that the average person is safe. Many people believed that even though not all psychopaths are dangerous, they should be executed or locked up just in case. I want to learn more about these instances.
5)List at least 5 questions you have about your topic.
-When was the death penalty invented?
-How many people have been put to death in the United States?
-What states is it legal in?
-What countries is it legal in?
-Have efforts to abolish it be successful?
-Can juveniles be executed?
-What are different religion's opinions on it?
6)Describe your plan for collecting information about your topic.
-I'm planning on looking up different cases of people who have been given the death penalty. I want to look at how it has changed throughout history, and see where it began. I would also like to know about all the legal complications of this. I'd also like to learn about each side of the argument by reading about abolitionists, marches, and protests. I plan to do this through the internet and possibly textbooks.
7)"Racial and Geographic Disparities in Ohio Executions." Death Penalty Information Center. May 2010. Web. 18 May 2010
"Death Penalty and Sentencing Information." Pro Death Penalty. 1 Oct. 1997. Web. 18 May 2010.
"Execution of Juvenile Offenders." Amnesty International. 2007. Web. 18 May 2010.
"The Death Penalty in the U.S." Death Penalty. 1 Apr. 2008. Web. 18 May 2010.
"History of the Death Penalty." Anti Death Penalty. 2004. Web. 18 May 2010.
- My topic is the death penalty. It is a widely debated issue with many people who believe both sides. Some people feel that the death penalty is wrong no matter what. Others feel that some crimes people commit are only punishable by death. I chose the topic to learn more about the death penalty itself and what types of situations it is used in.
2)Describe what you know about the topic.
- I know that the death penalty is not legal in all the states. It is practiced around the world more freely. People usually recieve the death penalty for commiting murder. Also, many people wait on death row for years here in America, and appeals prevent them from ever having to go through with it. Lawyers usually drag the process of appeals out until the prisoner has died of natural causes. Prisoners who face the death penalty live in seperate jails than other prisoners.
3)Tell what you want to learn about.
- I want to learn more about what kind of people recieve the death penalty. I also want to know the types of crimes besides murder that can get the death penalty. Is it only murder or things like rape? Does death have to be involved for the criminal to be executed? I'd like to know the number of criminals who are actually executed.
I would also like to learn about both sides of the debate more, and the evidence that they support it with. Since I don't really have an opinion I'm open to seeing both sides of the argument and making a decision from there. I also want to learn where the death penalty is legal and illegal. I want to see how other countries view it, and which ones practice it and which ones forbid it. I also want to learn about cases where capital punishment was implemented and form my own opinion on whether it was right or wrong.
4)Describe the origins of your research. What sparked your interest in the topic? Why do you want to know more about it?
- My interest was sparked on this because of a few things I've seen and heard in the past few years. I read a book called The Innocent Man by John Grisham a few summers ago. It was a true story based on a man who was facing the death penalty for raping and murdering a young waitress. However, he turns out to be innocent and mentally handicapped. He spent the majority of his life in jail waiting to die, and it turned out he only got to spend a few years out of prison before he died from getting sick.
Another thing that made me interested in the death penalty was something I studied when I did a psychology project on psychopaths. I learned about multiple serial killers who had been executed throughout history. One case in particular was about a woman serial killer who killed and robbed seven truck drivers and was executed a few years later. As I researched these stories, there were many articles written about how psychopaths should just be executed because that's the only way that the average person is safe. Many people believed that even though not all psychopaths are dangerous, they should be executed or locked up just in case. I want to learn more about these instances.
5)List at least 5 questions you have about your topic.
-When was the death penalty invented?
-How many people have been put to death in the United States?
-What states is it legal in?
-What countries is it legal in?
-Have efforts to abolish it be successful?
-Can juveniles be executed?
-What are different religion's opinions on it?
6)Describe your plan for collecting information about your topic.
-I'm planning on looking up different cases of people who have been given the death penalty. I want to look at how it has changed throughout history, and see where it began. I would also like to know about all the legal complications of this. I'd also like to learn about each side of the argument by reading about abolitionists, marches, and protests. I plan to do this through the internet and possibly textbooks.
7)"Racial and Geographic Disparities in Ohio Executions." Death Penalty Information Center. May 2010. Web. 18 May 2010
"Death Penalty and Sentencing Information." Pro Death Penalty. 1 Oct. 1997. Web. 18 May 2010.
"Execution of Juvenile Offenders." Amnesty International. 2007. Web. 18 May 2010.
"The Death Penalty in the U.S." Death Penalty. 1 Apr. 2008. Web. 18 May 2010.
"History of the Death Penalty." Anti Death Penalty. 2004. Web. 18 May 2010.
Death Penalty
I chose the death penalty for my social issue because of the controversy that surrounds it. Most everyone has an opinion on it, and I wanted to be able to learn about both sides of the arugument. Also, I don't really have a concrete opinion on the death penalty. I wanted to see that if through learning about it I would be able to take a side on the debate.
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