CAPITAL PUNISHMENTPresentation by Ingmar May & Zeno Ziemke(K13-2, GK English Treis, 16.02.11)
Outline
Brief historical overview Capital Punishment Today Methods used in the U.S. Selected Punishable Crimes Pros and Cons Capital Punishment in other countries
Overview For Apostasy China Germany
Brief Historical Overview
came to the U.S. with the first British settlers
1791: Bill of Rights 8th Amendment – no "cruel and unusual punishment" allowed.
1960s: Moratorium on executions 1972: capital punishment declared as
unconstitutional 1976: capital punishment restored by
the United States Supreme Court Up until today: surrounded by controversy
Capital Punishment Today
2010:~40 executions ~3186 inmates on death row
Executions are often mass eventsMedia reports, People watch/wait outsideMost Americans support it
Which is the country with the highest number of executions of minors?
Every year in the U.S. there‘re more under-aged persons killed than in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Libya together.
Lethal Injection
primary method in the U.S. Used in 36 states + U.S.
Military and U.S. Government
1066 executions since 1976
Considered as most „humane“ method
Causes immediate death Two cannula used, one for
each arm, 2nd as backup Three different drugs:
1st: unconsciousness 2nd: muscle paralysis 3rd: stops the heart
Electric Chair
Former main method in the U.S.
Now secondary method in 9 States:e.g. Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia
prisoners may choose it as alternative to lethal injection
157 executions since 1976
Cruelest method
Gas Chamber
2nd most „humane“ method
Used in 4 states 11 executions
since 1976
Judicial Hanging
Only retained in Washington and New Hampshire
Short drop Takes between ten and
twenty minutes for the convict to die
Standard drop Improvement: person's
neck breaks immediately Long drop
height, used to determine required dropping distance => ensure that neck breaks
Only 3x since 1976
Firing Squad
Optional method in Utah
3 executions since 1976
Ronnie Lee Gardner(June 18, 2010)
Map of Captial Punishment in the U.S.
Selected Punishable Crimes
Crime: Jurisdiction:
All kinds of murder
Treason (fighting against your own country)
Federal and Military courts, AR, CA, CO, GA, LA
Aggravated Kidnapping CO, GA, ID, KY, SC
Sex Crimes against a victim younger than 14 by a repeat offender
OK
Willfully causing a Train Wreck
CA
Perjury (lying under oath) CA, ID
Drug Trafficking FL, NJ
+ AGGRAVATING FACTORS crime has to be heinous (ruchlos), cruel, or depraved (verwerflich) (or involving torture)
The Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment
ProsSafetyDeterrenceAppropriate punishment/vengeanceCostLife of the vicitm > murder
Consethical acceptanceNo effect on crime ratesnot humaneRisk of wrongful executions
Minimum age in the U.S.
Executions in the U.S. since 1976
Overview - Capital Punishment in other countries
Capital Punishment in other countries
● Methods: beheading, hanging, lethal injection, shooting, stoning, stabbing
● Selected punishable crimes (not effective in the U.S.): drug-related offences, rape (incl. paedophilia), treason, adultery, apostasy, piracy, terrorism, homosexual intercourse
● International organisations demand a Moratorium
Apostasy
Apostasy
Mauritania
SudanSomalia
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Iraq
Afghanistan
Pakistan
Pfeile in anderer Farbe bitte ;)
Republic of China
● Most people worldwide executed
● Method: Lethal injection (since 2008)
● Selected punishable crimes:
● - corruption
● - tax evasion
● - procuration
● - …
● Organ trafficking
Germany
● While the „Grundgesetz“ was elaborated, Hans-Christoph Seebohm (DP) suggested, to abolish the Capital Punishment
● 1949: Art. 102, GG: „ The death penalty is abolished“
● Though: The last execution occured in 1951 (seven former NS-war criminals)
● Capital punishment → lifelong penal servitude
● Art. 102 is nearly unneccessary
● → Art 1. Abs. 1 GG (human dignity)
● Last execution in the SBZ/DDR in 1972