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Support for the Capital Punishment Criminal Justice Ram Gautam May 17th , 2013 Discussion Topics Introduction of Capital Punishment US History Views and Statistics on Capital Punishment Ethics on Capital Punishment Application of Capital Punishment Need of Capital Punishment Personal Views on Capital Punishment Analysis/Conclusion Introduction: Define: Capital Punishment Capital punishment is defined as “the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.” (Oxford Dictionary) Everyday many innocents people are murdered for various reasons. Such illegal activities violates the norms and principles of a civilized society. A punishment must be introduced to protect the rights of innocent peoples. US History of Capital Punishment • • • • • • • • • First recorded execution: Captain George Kendall Jamestown, Virginia, 1608 First woman executed: Jane Champion, 1632 1888: New York builds the first electric chair More executions in the 1930s than in any other decade in American history. 1950s: public opinion turns against capital punishment 1940s: 1,289 executions 1950s: 715 executions 1977: Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a means of execution 1994 - President Clinton signs the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act expanding the federal death penalty George W. Bush I support the death penalty because I believe, if administered swiftly and justly, capital punishment is a deterrent against future violence and will save other innocent lives . Bible “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death” Views on Capital Punishment Statistics on Capital Punishment According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, the number of inmates receiving the death penalty is decreasing every year; 121 in 2008, 118 in 2009, and 104. There are still 33 states in the U.S. that practice capital punishment, in addition to the U.S. government and the U.S. military. Research shows that majority of the Americans support death penalty. In 1936, 61% of Americans favored death penalty. This figure declined to 47% in 1966, but then rose through the 1970’s to reach a stable 70% to 75% level in the 1980s. In 1994, public support for capital punishment peaked at around 80%.” Facts Ethics(Utilitarianism) • • • • Utilitarianism is a teleological ethical system : what is good is determined by the consequences of the action. This kind of ethical system is concerned with maximizing happiness and removing suffering as far as possible. It is based on the good for an individual and the good for the society. If a person kills an innocent person, he/she should also be should be punished because killing an innocent person is an immoral act. Ethics (Retributive Justice) In retributive justice system, “The criminal must suffer pain or loss proportional to what victim was forced to suffer.” This kind of justice system includes the punishments of “tooth for tooth, eye for eye, and life for life”. Application of Capital Punishment Applied to those criminals who takes other’s life and have no hope to bring them back into society. Both ethics Supports this kind of punishment. Examples: a.) According to a 2012 FBI report, “Fidel Urbina is wanted for allegedly beating and raping a woman in March of 1998. While out on bond, he also allegedly beat, raped and strangled a second woman to death in October of 1998” b.) According to The New York Times, “Two powerful bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday afternoon, killing three people, including an 8-year-old child, and injuring more than 100, as one of this city’s most cherished rites of spring was transformed from a scene of cheers and sweaty triumph to one of screams and carnage Many other examples. Need of Capital punishment The fear of death penalty could not stop the criminals. If there is no death penalty what would that be? To deter murder rate when executions increase, murders decrease, and when executions decrease, murders increase Cost for imprisonment The New York City's Correction Department spent an average of nearly $59,000 per inmate in the 2003 fiscal year. o If criminal is not kept given death penalty, they are imprisoned for about 30-45 years o Cost: 59,000x40=$23,600,000 (may fluctuate little bit..) o Many cheap options for execution o Lethal injection (81% since 1976) Electrocution (16%)-9 states Lethal Gas (1.1%)-Only available in Arizona, California, Missouri & Wyoming Hanging (0.3%)-Only available in Delaware, New Hampshire, & Washington Firing Squad (0.2%)-Only available in Idaho & Oklahoma o o Saves a lot of money. (Nepal does not have death penalty) Murderer Health care, food, shelter, and security Poor People Non of these. Still hope that they would contribute for the national progress Criminal VS. Poor people ( Google pic) Conclusion/Analysis To forgive is to suffer To accept another day we choose To give away another piece of life Once or twice is kind Three or four is blind Conclusion Death penalty to protect natural rights. I believe ,’if one takes a life, one must die too’. To establish love, peace and harmony in community. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV6OoypZMco References Bush, G.W. (2010). Decision Points. Crown Publishers, 230-231. Adler, R.D., & Summers, M. (2007) “Capital Punishment Works”. The Wall Street Journal, Retrieved from <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119397079767680173.html>. Eligon, J., & Cooper, M. (2013). “ Blast at Boston Marathon Kill 3 and Injure 100”. The New York Times, Retrieved from <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/us/explosions-reported-at-site-ofboston-marathon.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>. FBI Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitive. (2012). Retrieved from <http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/fidel-urbina/view>. “New UN website aims to educate youth on hunger issues”.(2009). New UN News Center. Retrieved From <http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30995&Cr=wfp&Cr1=#.UY MSsaKG2So>. Pilarczyy, D. E. (ed.). (1991). “Exodus 21:12.” New American bible. World Bible Publisher, Inc, 76. Soss, J., Langbein, L., & Metelko, A. R. (2003), “Why do white Americans support death penalty?” The Journal of Politics, 65 (2), 397-421. Saylor, W & Anthony, I. (2009). “ 31 Long Beach on American Corrections”. The Pew Center of the states. Retrieved from <