Capital Punishment
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Capital Punishment is the lawful infliction by judicial process of death as a punishment for an offence; the death penalty. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. There are five (5) lawful methods of capital punishment. They are 1. Electrocution 2. Hanging 3. Lethal Injection 4. Gas Chamber 5. Firing Squad Capital Punishment is used in many countries around the world. According to Amnesty International figures as at December 2009, 58 countries and territories retain the death penalty although many never actually use it.
In 2008, there was a growing reluctance among those countries that do retain the death penalty to use it in practice. In 2008, only 25 out of 59 countries that retain the death penalty carried out executions.
Amnesty International, March 2009
FIGURES ON DEATH PENALTY
In 1977, only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. As of December 2010 that figure stands at 96 and more than two thirds of the countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. In 2010, 23 countries carried out executions and 67 imposed death sentences in 2010. Methods of execution in 2010 included beheading, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection and shooting. Countries that retain the death penalty defended their position by claiming that their use of the death penalty is consistent with international human rights law. Their actions blatantly contradicted these claims.
IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY
IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY
RETRIBUTION
The basic argument behind retribution and punishment is * All guilty people deserve to be punished * Only guilty people deserve to be punished * Guilty people deserve to be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime
This argument states that real justice requires people to suffer for
Capital Punishment is the lawful infliction by judicial process of death as a punishment for an offence; the death penalty. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. There are five (5) lawful methods of capital punishment. They are 1. Electrocution 2. Hanging 3. Lethal Injection 4. Gas Chamber 5. Firing Squad Capital Punishment is used in many countries around the world. According to Amnesty International figures as at December 2009, 58 countries and territories retain the death penalty although many never actually use it.
In 2008, there was a growing reluctance among those countries that do retain the death penalty to use it in practice. In 2008, only 25 out of 59 countries that retain the death penalty carried out executions.
Amnesty International, March 2009
FIGURES ON DEATH PENALTY
In 1977, only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. As of December 2010 that figure stands at 96 and more than two thirds of the countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. In 2010, 23 countries carried out executions and 67 imposed death sentences in 2010. Methods of execution in 2010 included beheading, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection and shooting. Countries that retain the death penalty defended their position by claiming that their use of the death penalty is consistent with international human rights law. Their actions blatantly contradicted these claims.
IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY
IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY
RETRIBUTION
The basic argument behind retribution and punishment is * All guilty people deserve to be punished * Only guilty people deserve to be punished * Guilty people deserve to be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime
This argument states that real justice requires people to suffer for