Essay On Death Penalty In America

This paper will examine the historical foundations, uses and the contemporary issues of the death penalty in America. It will go into where the death penalty came from and how it is used differently throughout the states. Understanding why America uses the death penalty. Outlines many issues caused by America using the death penalty. Discussing the different methods of execution and various laws adopted by various states.
For almost 400 years, America has used the death penalty. As European settlers came into the new world, they shared the practice of capital punishment. Although many settlers came from various countries, Britain had a strong influence over America to use the death penalty. From colony to colony, the death penalty law varies. In 1608, the first recorded person executed was Captain George Kendall. He was convicted of being a spy for Spain. It’s on record in 1630, Massachusetts Bay Colony had its first
execution even though Capital Laws of New England did not go into effect until years later.
The United States continues with the capital punishment for various reasons. The most for being deterrence; the underlying rationale. Due to the sheer size of the US and the scattered people in urban and rural areas; there are significant ethnic backgrounds, heritages and regional difference that come into play. The US has a strong tradition of serious distrust of a powerful central government. This distrust led to the development of the bill of rights. This limits the overreach of government, especially in the criminal justice field.
There are many issues in regards to the death penalty.
The question of fairness, for example, equal legal representation for all has been a concern. Also, a call for a national moratorium has led the abolition of the death penalty for non-homicide offences, for juveniles and for mentally retarded offenders. Many debates as to the death penalty being morally wrong; being executed as opposed to life imprisonment. Also, the concern that relates to whether the convicted person is actually guilty or in fact an innocent individual. This could be a result of a Wrongful Conviction.
Currently, not all the states use the death penalty. Twenty states including the federal government have the death penalty laws; however, they rarely use them. Fifteen states in the south have capital punishment laws. A couple of states are “death penalty states” in name only, because they have not executed anyone in many decades. The death sentence is permitted only for the crime of aggravated murder. In the most heinous crimes, capital punishment is the exception, not the
rule.
There are 5 different methods of Execution; Hanging, Lethal Injection, Shooting, Gas Chamber, and Electrocution. Delaware, New Hampshire and Washington are 3 states that use the hanging method. Lethal injection is provide for execution in the 32 non-abolitionist states, the U.S. government, and the U.S. military. Oklahoma and Utah are authorize to execution by firing squad as an alternative method. Arizona, Missouri, and Wyoming authorize execution by lethal gas as an alternative method. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia authorize execution by electrocution as an alternative method.