DEATH PENALTY

RAQUEL BAÑOLAS SUÁREZMILÁN SANTANA BAÑOLAS

EARLY DEATH PENALTY LAWS:• The first established death penalty law date in the Eighteenth Century

B.C., and it used in other civilizations from the past, for example, in the Hittie code (Fourteenth Century B.C), the Draconian Code of Athens and the Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets.

• In Britain (Tenth Century A.D) hanging was the usual method of execution.

• During the reign of Henry VIII 72,000 are estimated to have been executed.

Death Penalty in Americaand

The Abolitionist Movement• The first recorded execution was the execution of Captain George Kendall

which was a spy for Spain.

• The abolitionist movement started with the European Theorists Montesquieu, Voltaire and Bentham.

• Cesare Beccaria’s essay, “On the Crimes and Punishment”, had a strong impact throughout the world.

The possibility exists that innocent people men and women may be put to death

It sends the wrong message: “why kill people who kill people to show killing is

wrong?”

• Accountability: responsability

The endless appeals and required additional procedures clog the court

system

• Clog: block • Attorney: lawyer• Back up: delay

We as a society have to move away from the “eye for an eye” revenge mentality if civilization is to advance

It is useless because it doesn’t bring the victim back to life.

Death penalty

Advantages of the capital punishment

Death penalty gives closure to the victim’s families who have suffered so much

It creates another form of crime deterrent

DNA testing and other methods of modern crime scene science can now effectively eliminate almost all uncertainty as to a person’s guilt or innocence

Prisoner parole or escapes can give criminals another chance to kill

It contributes to solve the problem of overpopulation in the prison system