CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Capital punishment has been in effect since the 1600's. However, in 1972 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment, which was unconstitutional according to the eighth amendment. It was public opinion that the current methods of execution, hanging, electrocution, and facing a firing squad, were too slow and painful upon the person to be executed. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed this decision when a better way to bring about death was found in 1976. This better way is death by lethal injection, which is quick and painless if administered right. Since capital punishment has been reinstituted the issue has been a major discussion in the media and among the American public. Some say the death penalty is what the criminal deserves while others object to it because death is irreversible.
In a trial the sentencing judge or jury are ordered by the Supreme Court to look for specific aggravating and mitigating factors in......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 744
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |