The Death The Death PenaltyPenalty

For or Against?For or Against?

What is Capital What is Capital Punishment?Punishment?

Legal punishment by death.Legal punishment by death. Capital punishment has existed in Capital punishment has existed in

most societiesmost societies 60% of the world’s population live in 60% of the world’s population live in

countries where executions take place countries where executions take place Canada abolished the death penalty Canada abolished the death penalty

in 1976in 1976 half of Canadians would like to see it half of Canadians would like to see it

reinstated. Are you one of them?reinstated. Are you one of them?

PROSPROS of the Death of the Death PenaltyPenalty

PaybackPayback1.1. It’s fair - if you take someone's life you should have to It’s fair - if you take someone's life you should have to

face the same consequences.face the same consequences.2.2. Many societies’ religious teachings support this type of Many societies’ religious teachings support this type of

justice.justice. Deters criminalsDeters criminals

1.1. People won’t kill if they know the punishment is death.People won’t kill if they know the punishment is death.2.2. Studies show that each execution can save seven or eight people Studies show that each execution can save seven or eight people

from being victims of murder (Siegel & McCormick).from being victims of murder (Siegel & McCormick).3. Studies show that when executions increase, murder decreases

= criminals do fear the death penalty. CostCost

1.1. Putting criminals in prison for long-term sentences is Putting criminals in prison for long-term sentences is expensive. It’s better to spend tax money on other needs expensive. It’s better to spend tax money on other needs like health care and education.like health care and education.

Safer environment for societySafer environment for society1.1. The death penalty The death penalty permanentlypermanently removes dangerous criminals removes dangerous criminals

from societies making them safer for innocent civilians.from societies making them safer for innocent civilians.

Some DataSome Data Criminal Justice Criminal Justice

graph shows graph shows the murder the murder rate in the US rate in the US versus the versus the number of number of executions executions from 1930-from 1930-2000.2000.

For Example….SingaporeFor Example….Singapore

Singapore consistently uses the Singapore consistently uses the death penalty for murder. death penalty for murder.

highest execution rate in the highest execution rate in the world, and has one of the lowest world, and has one of the lowest murder rates in the world. murder rates in the world.

““Singapore has 12 times the Singapore has 12 times the population of Vancouver but only population of Vancouver but only half the crime rate.” half the crime rate.”

www.langara.bc.ca/creative-arts/publishing/prm/2003/singapore.htmlwww.langara.bc.ca/creative-arts/publishing/prm/2003/singapore.html

Now, let’s look at the Now, let’s look at the CONSCONS of the Death of the Death

PenaltyPenalty

““An eye for an eye and the An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blindwhole world goes blind" "

-Gandhi

CONS of the Death PenaltyCONS of the Death Penalty No chance for errorNo chance for error

1.1. There have been many cases where new evidence is There have been many cases where new evidence is found and convicted murders are proven innocent and found and convicted murders are proven innocent and freed.freed.

2.2. Cannot free a dead person. Innocent people get Cannot free a dead person. Innocent people get executed.executed.

3.3. Example:Example: in the US, 17 people on death row have been in the US, 17 people on death row have been proven innocent.proven innocent.

Criminals are un-deterredCriminals are un-deterred1.1. Research has found little evidence that countries with Research has found little evidence that countries with

a death penalty have lower violent rates (a death penalty have lower violent rates (Sigel & McCormikSigel & McCormik).).2.2. Most murders are unplanned and the consequences Most murders are unplanned and the consequences

were not considered.were not considered.3.3. Many murders are a result of irrational thinking due to Many murders are a result of irrational thinking due to

a mental illness, drug use, or burdens of poverty. a mental illness, drug use, or burdens of poverty. Costs moreCosts more

1.1. Research shows that life in jail is 8 times less Research shows that life in jail is 8 times less expensive than a death sentence.expensive than a death sentence.

2.2. Citizens are paying for the cost of the trial and the Citizens are paying for the cost of the trial and the execution.execution.

CONS of the Death CONS of the Death Penalty Cont…Penalty Cont…

Revenge is immoralRevenge is immoral1.1. Revenge is sinking to the moral level of the murderer Revenge is sinking to the moral level of the murderer 2.2. A criminal can wait on death row for many years which A criminal can wait on death row for many years which

causes suffering and makes the punishment worse.causes suffering and makes the punishment worse.3.3. Doesn’t that make you just as cruel as them?Doesn’t that make you just as cruel as them?

Bias to certain groupsBias to certain groups1.1. The mentally ill, poor, males, and racial minorities are The mentally ill, poor, males, and racial minorities are

over-represented among those executed by a jury.over-represented among those executed by a jury.2.2. Women convicted of murder are almost never Women convicted of murder are almost never

executed.executed. Redemption is possibleRedemption is possible

1.1. Sometimes people on death row repent, express Sometimes people on death row repent, express remorse, or experience spiritual rehabilitation before remorse, or experience spiritual rehabilitation before their execution.their execution.

2.2. Executing someone be seen as taking away their Executing someone be seen as taking away their potential to go to rehab, heal and become a potential to go to rehab, heal and become a productive citizen.productive citizen.

For Example…For Example… Abolished death penalty in 1976. Abolished death penalty in 1976. The murder rate has been declining since the mid-The murder rate has been declining since the mid-

1970s (Stats Canada). 1970s (Stats Canada). In 2006, the murder rate here was 1.85 homicides In 2006, the murder rate here was 1.85 homicides

per 100,000 people.per 100,000 people. In the mid-1970s was 3 homicides per 100,000. In the mid-1970s was 3 homicides per 100,000. In the USA, states with the death penalty have a In the USA, states with the death penalty have a

homicide rate far above the national average. homicide rate far above the national average. The homicide rate has been declining in the US, The homicide rate has been declining in the US,

especially in states which reject the death penaltyespecially in states which reject the death penalty.. In Maryland, the cost for one death sentence is $3 In Maryland, the cost for one death sentence is $3

million. This is $1.9 million more than a life prison million. This is $1.9 million more than a life prison sentence.sentence.

Kansas found that death sentence cases are 70% Kansas found that death sentence cases are 70% more expensive than non-death penalty cases.more expensive than non-death penalty cases.

You Decide!You Decide!Now that you have considered the Now that you have considered the

pros pros

and cons and you have watched and cons and you have watched

““Redemption”, construct a thesis Redemption”, construct a thesis

FOR or AGAINST the death penalty FOR or AGAINST the death penalty

using evidence from Tookie’s story.using evidence from Tookie’s story.

Please fill out your outline so that you Please fill out your outline so that you

have a study guide.have a study guide.

Jury DutyJury Duty THE FOLLOWING 3 CASES ARE THE FOLLOWING 3 CASES ARE

ALL TRUE.ALL TRUE. IMAGINE THE VICTIM IS IMAGINE THE VICTIM IS

SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOUR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOUR HEARTHEART

WHAT SHOULD BECOME OF WHAT SHOULD BECOME OF THEM?THEM?

YOU BE THE JUDGEYOU BE THE JUDGE

CASE 1 – CASE 1 – Larry FisherLarry Fisher Jailed on January 4, 2000, for the rape and murder Jailed on January 4, 2000, for the rape and murder

of 20-year-old Gail Miller in Saskatoon, of 20-year-old Gail Miller in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saskatchewan

Larry Fisher wasn't even the prime suspect in this Larry Fisher wasn't even the prime suspect in this legendary Canadian crime case to begin with. legendary Canadian crime case to begin with.

An innocent man, David Milgaard, served 23 An innocent man, David Milgaard, served 23 years for Fisher's murder until his release in 1992. years for Fisher's murder until his release in 1992.

Yet it wasn’t until 1997 that new evidence, using Yet it wasn’t until 1997 that new evidence, using DNA, actually exonerated Milgaard and he was DNA, actually exonerated Milgaard and he was subsequently awarded a $10-million subsequently awarded a $10-million compensation.compensation.

CASE 2 – Robert PicktonCASE 2 – Robert Pickton

A Canadian pig farmer, was charged for the murder A Canadian pig farmer, was charged for the murder of 26 women. It is alleged that he lured women into of 26 women. It is alleged that he lured women into his farm where he assaulted and killed them.his farm where he assaulted and killed them.

Pickton is no stranger to the law, and was also Pickton is no stranger to the law, and was also charged with attempted murder in 1997.charged with attempted murder in 1997.

However, it was by sheer luck that the more recent However, it was by sheer luck that the more recent case, which began in 2002, was brought on. case, which began in 2002, was brought on.

While searching Pickton’s property for illegal While searching Pickton’s property for illegal firearms, police found personal belongings of women firearms, police found personal belongings of women that had been reported missing. that had been reported missing.

In 2004, it was disclosed that some of the flesh from In 2004, it was disclosed that some of the flesh from Pickton’s victims may have been ground up and given Pickton’s victims may have been ground up and given out to his friends and farm visitors as part of the pork out to his friends and farm visitors as part of the pork he sold from the farm.he sold from the farm.

Pickton has been charged with 26 counts of first-Pickton has been charged with 26 counts of first-degree murderdegree murder

CASE 3 – Robert LatimerCASE 3 – Robert Latimer Latimer was found guilty of second-degree murder Latimer was found guilty of second-degree murder

and jailed for life for the killing of his daughter and jailed for life for the killing of his daughter Tracy. He is due for full parole in 2010.Tracy. He is due for full parole in 2010.

Latimer's defense plea for Tracy’s death was that it Latimer's defense plea for Tracy’s death was that it was a mercy killing – that he set her free from her was a mercy killing – that he set her free from her pain. pain.

Born in 1980, Tracy suffered severe cerebral palsy Born in 1980, Tracy suffered severe cerebral palsy from birth, brought on by a lack of oxygen during from birth, brought on by a lack of oxygen during labour. labour.

She suffered numerous seizures daily, and most She suffered numerous seizures daily, and most medical experts agreed her life was one of perpetual medical experts agreed her life was one of perpetual pain.pain.

Insisting at first that she had died in her sleep, Insisting at first that she had died in her sleep, Robert changed his story after police carried out an Robert changed his story after police carried out an autopsy and found carbon monoxide in her blood, autopsy and found carbon monoxide in her blood, and admitted he had killed Tracy by putting her in and admitted he had killed Tracy by putting her in his cab and connecting a hose to his exhaust.his cab and connecting a hose to his exhaust.

SourcesSources

http://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.htmlhttp://www.wesleylowe.com/cp.html L.J Siegel, C McCormick. L.J Siegel, C McCormick. Criminology In Criminology In

Canada. Canada. 20062006 http://canadaonline.about.com/od/crime/a/http://canadaonline.about.com/od/crime/a/

abolitioncappun.htmabolitioncappun.htm http://lpcyu.instablogs.com/entry/singaporhttp://lpcyu.instablogs.com/entry/singapor

e-and-the-death-penalty-unanswered-quese-and-the-death-penalty-unanswered-questionstions

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CapitalCapital__punishmentpunishment

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cp.htmwww.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cp.htm