The Death Penalty
The Death Penalty
Shawn Kirby
PHI 103
Dr. Daniel Haynes
December 17, 2012
The Death Penalty Capital punishment and the death penalty have been used throughout the world for thousands of years. During recent times it has become a much scrutinized topic of interest here in the United States. Throughout recent history there have been many highly publicized trials that have brought capital punishment and the death penalty into the national spotlight of the United States. Some of the most notorious trials dealing with capital punishment were the Nuremberg trials of the 1940’s and the Rosenberg trial and execution of the 1950’s. High profile cases such as these and many others have created a huge debate about the legality and morality of capital punishment and the death penalty. There are many people at all levels of society who strongly oppose the death penalty saying that it is against human rights and is also unjust. I believe that in the United States, the death penalty is not just and is not applied fairly. There are so many factors that need to be considered when trying to find out if the death penalty is being applied fairly. Should we consider all the statistics from the 1950’s till present day? I believe that the statistics from the convictions of the 1950’s and 1960’s would be truly different when compared to the convictions from 2000 to present day. The reason for the complete difference is because of racial discrimination. Although racial discrimination is not as openly visible as it once was in the 1950’s, 1960’s, and even the 1970’s, racial discrimination still exists in the United States. The NY Times has many statistics that show the percentage of people who have been sentenced to death. “In 173 cases between 1990 and 2010, the study examined decisions involving 7,421 potential jurors (82% were white, and 16% were black)”, (NY Times, Feb 2012). Looking at this statistic alone, it shows a complete imbalance
Shawn Kirby
PHI 103
Dr. Daniel Haynes
December 17, 2012
The Death Penalty Capital punishment and the death penalty have been used throughout the world for thousands of years. During recent times it has become a much scrutinized topic of interest here in the United States. Throughout recent history there have been many highly publicized trials that have brought capital punishment and the death penalty into the national spotlight of the United States. Some of the most notorious trials dealing with capital punishment were the Nuremberg trials of the 1940’s and the Rosenberg trial and execution of the 1950’s. High profile cases such as these and many others have created a huge debate about the legality and morality of capital punishment and the death penalty. There are many people at all levels of society who strongly oppose the death penalty saying that it is against human rights and is also unjust. I believe that in the United States, the death penalty is not just and is not applied fairly. There are so many factors that need to be considered when trying to find out if the death penalty is being applied fairly. Should we consider all the statistics from the 1950’s till present day? I believe that the statistics from the convictions of the 1950’s and 1960’s would be truly different when compared to the convictions from 2000 to present day. The reason for the complete difference is because of racial discrimination. Although racial discrimination is not as openly visible as it once was in the 1950’s, 1960’s, and even the 1970’s, racial discrimination still exists in the United States. The NY Times has many statistics that show the percentage of people who have been sentenced to death. “In 173 cases between 1990 and 2010, the study examined decisions involving 7,421 potential jurors (82% were white, and 16% were black)”, (NY Times, Feb 2012). Looking at this statistic alone, it shows a complete imbalance
References: Costantinou, M., & OF THE, E. S. (1999, May 04). About 700 hold candlelight vigil more death- penalty opponents drawn by babbitt 's case; THE BABBITT EXECUTION. San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/270504363?accountid=32521 Independent Weekly, Dec 16, 1998, retrieved from http://www.indyweek.com/ Smith, P. (2011, Apr 18). The death penalty debate. New York Times Upfront, 143, 12-15,TE6- TE7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/862157379?accountid=32521 The New York Times, (Feb 5, 2012). Race and Death Penalty Juries. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com Unah, Isaac, Dr. (April 16, 2001). The Common Sense Foundation North Carolina Council of Churches Race and the Death Penalty in North Carolina. An Empirical Analysis: 1993- 1997. Retrieved from http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/race-and-death-penalty-north- carolina.