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Capital Punishment is the legal infliction of death as penalty for violating criminal law. It is a very controversial issue because critics of capital punishment contend that it is brutal and degrading, while supporters consider it a necessary form of retribution for terrible crimes. Those who advocate the death penalty assert that it is a uniquely effective punishment that deters crime. ... Opponents of capital punishment see the death penalty as a human rights issue involving the proper limits of governmental power. In contrast, those who want governments to continue to execute tend to regard capital punishment as an issue of criminal justice policy. Because of these alternative viewpoints, there is a profound difference of opinion not only about what is the right answer on capital punishment, but about what type of question is being asked when the death penalty becomes a public issue.(encarta)
Some of the early methods in the history of capital punishment include: crucifixion, stoning, drowning, burning at the stake, impaling, and beheading; however all these methods have now been deemed uncivilized and unnecessary. ... Currently the United States primarily uses lethal gas, lethal injection, electrocution, hanging, and shooting as Capital punishment. ... Several states also authorize capital punishment for the non lethal offenses of drug trafficking, hijacking, treason, and sexual assault. ... Another 13 countries authorized capital punishment only for exceptional crimes, such as crimes under military law and crimes committed in exceptional circumstances, such as during wartime. ... Typically, capital punishment is reserved for individuals who commit the most violent or serious crimes, such as murder and . However, some governments authorize capital punishment for nonviolent or nonfatal crimes. For example, in Libya importing alcohol and trading in foreign currency are capital crimes. In general, industrial democracies have abolished the death penalty, while non industrialized nations are much more likely to retain capital punishment. ... A number of newly industrialized Asian nations, such as South Korea, also practice capital punishment. ... They also believed that when attached to certain crimes, capital punishment "exerts a positive moral influence by placing a stigma on certain crimes like murder, resulting in attitudes of disgust and horror to such acts. ... It applies to federal statutes that previously carried the death penalty and creates many new capital offenses. ... New capital offenses include the murder of a federal prisoner serving a life sentence, and drive by shootings in the course of certain drug offenses.
Approximate Word count = 1894
Approximate Pages = 7.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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