Death Penalty

Comparing the death penalty in Georgia and the United States to the

rest of the World

Death Penalty in the US

Key:Blue – death Penalty illegal Green – no executions performed since 1976Red – death penalty legal Orange – death penalty unconsitutional

37 states allow the death penalty

Eighth Amendment

“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

- Eighth Amendment, US Constitution

What is cruel and unusual punishment?

Who decides?• The Supreme Court has the

authority to make the decisions about Constitutional issues – they’ve ruled that the death penalty is not cruel and unusual punishment because

a majority of Americans accept the death penalty as proper punishment for first-

degree murder

Due Process• The Supreme Court has also ruled that due

process must be carried out (per the Fourteenth Amendment)

• This means that you can’t automatically sentence someone to death

The courtroom of the Supreme Court

What impacts the decision to give the death penalty?

• Aggravating circumstances – the things about the crime and the defendant which made it a cruel and vicious act (reasons to give the death penalty)

• Mitigating circumstances – things which call for mercy and leniency on the part of the jurors (reasons not to give the death penalty)

Death Penalty Methods in the US

Death Penalty around the world

Key:Blue – abolished for all crimesGreen – abolished except for exceptional circumstances (war, etc.)Orange – abolished in practice but not by lawRed – legal form of punishment for certain crimes