capital punishment
...e been released with evidence of their innocence. (deathpenalty.org) We are innocent until proven guilty, but in this case, we are guilty until proven innocent. 100 people not guilty, that we know of. Those 100 people got lucky. What about the unlucky ones? The innocent waiting to be found yet never recognized. As innocent as they may be, they will receive a specific day where their life will cease to exist. The innocent inmates spend about 9 years incarcerated prior to release. In 2000, eight inmates were freed from death row and exonerated. From 2001-2002 another nine were freed. In 2003, ten have been exonerated. These quick references show how undecided we really are. We are undecided because it is a matter of life and death, a matter of breathing once and suddenly stopping. If one is found to be innocent, could be too late? There are around 3,504 inmates on death row now. (deathpenalty.org) Waiting for their turn to die. Their crimes deserve punishment but are we as humans allowed to Seilhymer 3 decide their days are gone? An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, this statement seems to me that if someone chooses to take a life, we as a society can too? If we are able to bow down to their level of evilness, and try to take their life away, we have just copied a crime, gone against an act of God. Interfered in the way and are just as guilty. What lessons do we teach to the inmates? A fear of dying? Paul Bundy chose Florida for his last strike because they carried the death sentence. Is the death sentence in all its evilness a way out for the criminals? (deathpenalty.org) There are many cases in criminal punishment that involve women, teens, and those with mental problems. 10 women have been executed since 1976. 49 women are on death row as of October 1, 2003. 23 juveniles have been executed since 1976 and 73 are on death row now since December 1, 2003. Seventeen states plus federal government have a minimum age of 18 for capital punishment while 5 places are at 17 years of age. (FL, GA, NH, NC, TX) As far as the mentally retarded, on June 20, 2002, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling to end the execution to those with mental retardation. (Britannica) In Atkins v. Virginia, the court held that it is a violation of the ban on cruel and unusual punishment to execute death row inmates who have mental retardation. (deathpenaltyinfo.com) Cruel and unusual punishment should be better explained to everyone. I am one to believe that any death sentence is cruel and unusual punishment. To women, teens, insane, normal and retarded people, I still see it morally wrong to take an act of God in the hands of ourselves. In today’s news, it being the 26th of February, an execution is scheduled for Hung Than Le, a foreign national in Oklahoma. Governor Brad Henry has rejected a unanimous recommendation from Oklahoma Board of Pardon and Paroles to reduce Le’s death sentence to life in prison. It had not been aware that Le did not have the right to contact the Vietnamese consulate when he was arrested and he may have been suffering from post traumatic stress from the Vietnam War. (deathpenalty.org) Still Henry will not sign for an extension and the chances of Hung Than Le’s execution today is at a high. (deathpenaltyinfo.org) The cost of an execution is at a high too. Florida spends an average of 3.2 million dollars per execution. Texas spends an average of 2.3 million dollars per execution. “Every dollar we spend on a capital case is a dollar we cant spend anywhere else.” John M. Baily, Chief State Attorney said. The total cost of Indiana’s death penalty is 38% greater than the total cost of life without parole sentences. California could save about 90,000,000 dollars per year by abolishing the death penalty and re-sentencing all of its death row inmates to life in prison. (taking sides) With all of this wasted money towards exterminating life, it could have been used for something more beneficial. The money could have been used to create a better city. With the help of large amounts of money, investigations to crimes would be well financed meaning more accurate results, provide police officers with the safe equipment needed for the job, and treatment programs could be set up around the cities to help those who need help. With the death penalty around, there is a reduction in public safety. With all that is said on how the death penalty is wrong, lets take a...