ktmeng/mec huggingface dataset:
Topic: death-penalty

The termination of a football season, even the terminating of football practices. It was the most severe punishment ever created, ever bestowed. Some say SMU did not deserve the death penalty because of the effects that lasted after it was issued. When the death penalty was issued, it came as a shock to all of the student body and caused an uproar in the university itself. It meant reconstruction and the suffering for players who could not play anymore. The aftermath of the university’s football program shutting down was one that no one ever expected.
Topic: death-penalty

Coaches from other schools came to the university for the talent found at SMU and took them on recruiting trips so they could play at a school that can guarantee them a chance to play professional football, despite finishing a college education at SMU. In the years that followed, there was an absence in the university due to the death penalty being enforced. In 1989, college football at SMU was brought back onto the scene under the coaching of Forest Greg. When SMU was allowed to recruit again, they looked as if they were a completely new team.
Topic: death-penalty

They were smaller in size and shape, and their determination to succeed was in high. Their season was filled with much suffering and SMU was never able to have a winning season until 2008, almost twenty years after the death penalty. It was a loss of hope for the Mustangs after the sufferings they went through, it seemed almost unfair to have to play with a team that was not highly ranked or highly talented. The death penalty was the largest burden to a football team in the history of college football and was never given again.
Topic: death-penalty

It was a difficult sight to see the team getting beaten with a score of 21-95, and it all was a result of the death penalty. But, one has to think, was it really deserved? It was a misdemeanor act of unfair victory for the Mustangs, using the money that was stored up in the city of Dallas to become the best team in Texas and in the nation. If SMU had never gotten the death penalty, then the corruption would have been controlled, or stopped. It was horrific, it was severe, but they were guilty.
Topic: death-penalty

It brought lots of frustrations to hopeful players and hopeful coaches, but it taught a lesson to everyone playing college football to understand what happens when rules are broken and how severe the consequences can be. But, even though SMU might have deserved the death penalty by bribing players with money or using powerful political figures to give them money to take players in, it was not a cry for giving up. It only made them stronger, and it only made them show all college football teams how they could rise up from the ground to become a team they dream to be instead of a team they currently are.
Topic: death-penalty

This essay was mainly about death sentence. The info of essay was partly taken from the internet, through conversation amongst tutor and friends as well as basic knowledge from outside sources. The objective of performing death sentence is to reveal that justice for extreme criminal offense still exists. Electrocution, hanging, gas chamber, shooting team and deadly injection are the approaches of execution in capital punishment. In contrast, capital punishment is an essential evil that works as deterrent to lower criminal activity rate, ensures safety of the society and extreme wrongdoers are worthy of retribution for their action.
Topic: death-penalty

Death sentence as a just penalty must be differentiated rationally to fit the criminal activity. For circumstances, an individual who stole magazine from a bookshop does not deserve death sentence as their penalty. Nevertheless, a serial killer, who commits murder over and over again for no bearable factors, definitely should have death charge. As long as lawbreakers such as serial killers still exist, we will invest our life living in worry. In Malaysia, the death penalty is mandatory for some offenses such as releasing a firearm with the intent of causing death and offences against the individual of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and murder (Laws of Malaysia 2006).
Topic: death-penalty

King Hammurabi of Babylon was the first to establish the death penalty codes for 25 different crimes back in the Eighteenth Century B.C. The death penalty was listed in the Fourteenth Century B.C.’s Hittite Code; in the Seventh Century B.C.’s Draconian Code of Athens, which made death the only punishment for all crimes; and in the Fifth Century B.C.’s Roman law of the Twelve Tablets. Crucifixion, drowning, burning alive and impalement are among the ways to perform death penalty (Death Penalty Information Center 2010).
Topic: death-penalty

The historical background of death penalty is compelling because one’s moral had never been emphasized until today. Nowadays, some countries still carry out death penalty and the objective is to remind and to show their people the consequences of committing extreme crime. In the last decade, a lot of country has abolished the death penalty but more than fifty countries still retain the death penalty practice and law. For example, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, United States and India are among the countries that still practice death penalty until today (Prosecuting Attorney 2010).
Topic: death-penalty

4.1 FIRST COUNTER ARGUMENT Death penalty is against human rights. If we believe human life is sacred, then the state’s executioner should be barred from carrying out the death penalty. We should respect and try to embrace human dignity. In 1997, the U.N. High Commission for Human rights agreed upon a decision stating that an outlaw of the death penalty contributes to the improvement of human dignity and to the progress of human rights (C. Richard 2011). Countries that understand the death penalty is a human right issue abolished death penalty. For example, the member states of the Council of Europe have added Protocol 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights calling for the outlaw of the death penalty (Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights 1979). The death penalty certainly goes against our most basic human right which is the right to have a life; this is also applied even to those who commit murder. For example, an execution by lethal injection or electrocution will take the lives of convicted felons and that clearly violates the human rights.
Topic: death-penalty

On top of that, death penalty costs more than life without parole, which is also known as life imprisonment. We should be aware that death penalty is time consuming and expensive. In 1995, the Bomber of Oklahoma City named Timothy McVeigh’s had been executed and his execution costs more than $13 million. Furthermore, since the death penalty was restored in New York in 1995, it costs approximately $23 million for each person condemned to death (BBC Ethics Guide 2011). Suppose a cheaper option is available when we compare the prices of a similar television, we will definitely buy the cheaper one. This is how we should apply when discussing death penalty and life imprisonment. The capital cases in the United States can cost up to millions of dollars from arresting to executing a criminal with death penalty but cases ending with life imprisonment costs only around $500,000 (Jones Elliot 2009). All of this money could have been used to cure poverty around the globe. Therefore, we should save hundreds of lives around the world instead of ending one’s life with that amount of money.
Topic: death-penalty

The arguments claimed by the opponents stated that death penalty violates human rights and a lot of money will be wasted on death penalty is actually undeniable but the death penalty is not killing the criminals, it is a punishment for their extreme action and justice can never be thought in financial terms. Death penalty affects more factors positively than causing negative effect. Death penalty serves as a deterrent to help reduce crime rate, assures safety of the society by eliminating criminals and some criminals deserve retribution for their action are the main factors that should be addressed seriously.6. ARGUMENTS
Topic: death-penalty

6.1. FIRST ARGUMENT Death penalty is a necessary evil that serves as deterrent to reduce crime rate. Everybody fears death, even animals. If extreme criminals are executed by death penalty, all the potential criminals will definitely think twice before committing extreme crime because their own life is at stake. Majority of studies claimed that the existence of death penalty increases the crime rate but some of the studies did not consider other factors that affects crime rate. For example, the major factors that constantly contributing to an increase of crime rate are residential population, individual family issue, climate and economic condition (Annual Crime Report 1998). Moreover, all the matters regarding deterrence has been studied by a Professor of Jurisprudence named Ernest van den Haag from Fordham University. He stated that even though statistical demonstrations are not conclusive, capital punishment deter more than other punishments because people fear death more than anything else (Arguments for and Against the Death penalty 2000).
Topic: death-penalty

Death penalty is 100% effective as deterrent to the criminal being executed; that killer would not be able to commit anymore crimes especially homicide (Stephen K 1985). Suppose life imprisonment is the maximum penalty in a state, nothing can stop those prisoners who are facing life imprisonment to commit more crime especially murder again in prison. “Assault in prisons in all over US, both against fellow inmates and against staff, have more than doubled in the past decades, according to statistics gathered by Criminal Justice Institute in Middletown, Connecticut”(Van Paul 1998). Death penalty is a necessary evil that should be retained because criminal especially serial killers will learn a lesson which is death penalty is the most suitable punishment of justice for their extreme crime.
Topic: death-penalty

6.2. SECOND ARGUMENT Furthermore, safety of the society will not be the main concern once those criminals are executed by death penalty. However, criminals especially murderers can plead for insanity or mental retardation. The courts have accepted a general definition of mental retardation as being significantly sub average in general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behaviour and manifested during the developmental period (Garner Corinne 1990). For example, a drug related brain-damaged killer barely knew his own identity when he raped and murdered a woman and her daughter in front of a 3 year old boy. The insane man then pled for insanity which made him spent his 22 years in jail.
Topic: death-penalty

We would not know the truth behind the crime scene; he might consume the drugs right after killing because anyone would take risk just to continue living. Next, if he were mentally disabled from the beginning he brings danger towards the society. “The procedures of identifying mental retardation vary from state to state and some of the procedures used to identify mental retardation have come to be questioned. Some of the prisoners identified as having mental retardation have mislabelled” (Petersilia 1997). This is why death penalty is crucial for those who damage themselves mentally or those who are born with mental problems if they committed extreme crime more than once because it is for the safety of the society. Thus, death penalty is not inhumane because it benefits the mentally disable criminal to prevent them from committing sins without them realizing it.
Topic: death-penalty

6.3. THIRD ARGUMENT Last but not least, some criminals deserve retribution for their action. Death penalty is not revenge but simply returning the nature of the extreme crime committed as a punishment. Criminals such as murderers are the ones that keep demonstrating inhumanity. Anti-death penalty supporters believe that death penalty is inhumane and barbarous. Well, so is murder. If murderers do not value the life of their victim then there is no reason their life should be valuable.
Topic: death-penalty

In addition, murderers neglected their rights as a human when they violate the rights of their victim (Jones Elliot 2009). The rights of the victims are more important than the rights of the criminal. Death penalty will bring closure to the criminal and closure to the ordeal for the victim’s family. The greatest example in history would be Saddam Hussein; He is punished by death penalty because he committed extreme crime against humanity when he murdered 148 Shias in Tigris river city of Dujail in 1982. The society was finally satisfied when he was sentenced to death because it brings closure to the ordeal for the 148 victim’s family (BBC News 2006). Thus, criminals such as Saddam deserve death penalty retribution as a proportionate punishment.
Topic: death-penalty

In this essay, I have listed two effects of death penalty; death penalty is against human rights and death penalty costs more than life without parole. I have also discussed three reasons why death penalty is a necessary evil; death penalty serves as a deterrent to help reduce crime rate, assures safety of the society and extreme criminals deserve retribution for their action. The reality is that our country, Malaysia still practices death penalty today because the government knows what’s best for their people. Government of other country should think carefully and take into considerations all the angle of subject of death penalty. Everything has their effects. Therefore, the governments should come up with wise solutions for the entire question that rises regarding death penalty. A rational solution can make a country unite and more stable in various aspects.
Topic: death-penalty

The death penalty is an issue that has the United States quite divided. While there are many supporters of it, there is also a large amount of opposition. There are five different forms of execution in the United States: hanging, electrocution, lethal injection, lethal gas, and firing squad. All of these should be illegal. Capital punishment is defined as killing of someone for a crime. But also, murder is defined as killing one human being by another. Both are acts of violence.
Topic: death-penalty

There is nothing more inhumane than tolerating the killing of another human being. According to the Abolitionists, capital punishment is nothing but an act of violence. There are 32 states with the death penalty, and they must change. These states need to abolish it on the grounds that it carries a dangerous risk of punishing the innocent, is cruel, and for religious reasons. The United States needs to abolish capital punishment in the states that allow it.
Topic: death-penalty

First reason the death penalty should be abolished is because the risk of punishing somebody innocent. “We’re only ­human, we all make mistakes,” is a commonly used phrase, but it is tried and true. Humans, as a species, are famous for their mistakes. However, in the case of the death penalty, error becomes too dangerous a risk. The innocent lives that have been taken with the approval of our own government should be enough to abolish capital punishment.
Topic: death-penalty

That person does not deserve to serve the time that’s not rightfully his. It’s a small fault in the justice system that is not easy to overcome. In the case of the death penalty, error becomes too dangerous to risk. The innocent lives that have been taken with the approval of our own government should be enough to abolish capital punishment. Another reason to abolish the death penalty is because it is cruel. Many people favor the death penalty because it helps families get over the wrong done to the family; however, in most cases, closure is not the result. Losing a loved one, no matter how that person is lost, is unbearable. Pain like this is shocking and the victim’s family holds onto the hope that the execution of the murderer will bring relief and closure. Nevertheless, when execution day arrives, the pain is not eased.
Topic: death-penalty

No relief can be gained, for their pain is an unavoidable, natural process of life. They believe that they are different from those who have taken their loved ones and they demonstrate their ­difference by refusing to sink to a murderer’s level. According to Edna Weaver, whose daughter was murdered in New Jersey, expressed relief that the defendant was spared the death penalty. She said that she did not want William Severs Jr. executed for killing Tina Lambriola in 2002 because she wanted to spare his mother the pain of losing a child. “I’m so thankful it came out the way it did. . . . I wouldn’t want another mother to feel like I do — it’s a feeling I could never put into words. . . . At least his mother will be able to write to him, she will be able to send things to him,” Weaver stated.
Topic: death-penalty

Finally, the last reason they should abolish capital punishment is because religious reasons. Many religions, such Catholicism, follow the rules that God sent to use through the Ten Commandments. One of the most important of those ten states, “Thou shall not kill.” If you are executing an individual, that clearly violates this commandment. Murdering any person, no matter what the individual has been convicted of, is a mortal sin. In the Old Testament; the Lord said that it is okay to give a man Capital punishment if he has committed serious crime.
Topic: death-penalty

Then in the New Testament he said we should not take the life of another man but if that man disobeys the laws of his country then he shall be punished equally according to what he had done. With the many advances that society has made, executing people for crimes the person may have or may not have committed is still practiced. It violates so many religious beliefs. It is a cruel and unusual practice that must be done away with. Society must advance and eliminate the death penalty. We need to understand that the best way to prevent any possible murders in the future is not let the killer walk free. Nothing good comes of hate, and nothing good can ever come from capital punishment. It cannot continue to be accepted by a nation that claims to have liberty and justice for all. The death penalty is murder on the sly and it’s dead wrong.
Topic: death-penalty

The death penalty in the United States is a constant source of controversy. Efforts to abolish capital punishment in America date back to over 100 years and continue to expand in present-day. In addition, all 50 states vary in their retention and application of the death penalty. Currently, the death penalty is legal in 32 states, the distribution of the actual executions however, is quite wide. The five states with the highest number of executions performed account for approximately 65% of the total executions in the country since the US Supreme Court re-affirmed and reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
Topic: death-penalty

As tribal societies formed social classes and man-kind developed its own self-governed republics, capital punishment became a usual response to a variety of crimes, such as sexual assault, military offenses and treason. Written rules were created to alert the people of the penalties that could face them should they participate in any wrongdoing. One of the earliest written documents observed that supported the death penalty was the Code of Hammurabi, written on stone tablets around 1760 BC.
Topic: death-penalty

The earliest forms of the death penalty were intended to be painful, slow and torturous. Some ancient cultures employed methods of crucifixion, stoning, and being burned at the stake among others. Later civilizations found these methods to be cruel, unusual forms of punishment and thus opted for more humane practices. During the 18th and 19th centuries, legislators found less painful and faster approaches to execution, which included beheading by the guillotine and hanging. These practices were typically large public spectacles and were not any less bloody or violent but death was almost always instantaneous, so they were perceived as being more compassionate.
Topic: death-penalty

Capital Punishment in the United States dates back to the founding of the original colonies, and was used for a variety of crimes such as burglary, treason, counterfeiting and murder. During the American Revolution, legislators in the United States began to examine and revise policies behind the death penalty. In 1971, the constitution was amended to prohibit any form of punishment deemed “cruel and unusual.” Although the amendment did not intend to ban capital punishment, it did start a movement towards performing more human executions. Currently, 32 states in the US allow the death penalty, although the greatest number of death row inmates and actual executions occur in only a few of those. California is the state with the largest death row population of 625 inmates, but they do not perform executions frequently. In fact, in the last three years, only two people have been put to death. In contrast is Texas, while also having a large number of offenders on death row (453), Texas follows through with executions, executing more people each year than any other state. Their executions constitute 46% of all executions performed in the year 2002.
Topic: death-penalty

Eligibility for the death penalty and determining what criteria qualifies a crime for the death penalty varies by jurisdictions. No” automatic” sentence exists for any crime. The death penalty is assigned to crimes that contain aggravating factors, and are “monstrous or horrific” in nature. Examples of aggravating factors include intentional, premeditated murder, and murder that results from the commission of certain violent felonies such as robbery, rape, kidnapping, burglary and arson, even if the death results as an accident. These vary by state and in some the list of aggravating factors is lengthy and not well defined which can mean a lot of crimes can potentially be classified as “capital.” Prosecutors of the jurisdiction in which the crime has occurred make the decision of whether to seek the death penalty in each case. Critics allege that prosecutors are influenced to consider factors when seeking the death penalty that should not be relevant, such as the race of the victim and offender, for example. Community and public outrage as well as media attention can also impact the process of seeking the death penalty. (Marcus, 2007)
Topic: death-penalty

Trials for death penalty cases differ from other trials in that they are more intensive, expensive and much more complicated, after all, the outcome could end or spare someone’s life. They attract wide-spread and sometimes sensational media attention that can become distracting and unfavorable for the defendant as well as the other parties involved in the case. Political and public pressure is placed on the judge and prosecutors to secure a conviction and death sentence. Defense lawyers too face a great deal of pressure to save their client’s lives. Another aspect of capital case trials that sets them apart from regular cases is the selection of the jury. Potential jurors in capital cases must undergo a somewhat extensive process before being qualified to participate. The most important criteria they must meet however revolve around the individuals personal views on the death penalty. Qualified jurors must be in support of capital punishment and willing to impose it, those that cannot abide by that requirement are excused from jury service.
Topic: death-penalty

Capital trials are separated into two sections, in the first only evidence and defenses are heard, this is referred to as the guilt phase. At the close of the guilt phase while the jury does not yet deliberate about a sentence, they do however decide to convict or acquit the defendant. Should the defendant be convicted, the penalty phase of the trial begins, during this phase the jury hears arguments and evidence concerning sentencing options. At this time, prosecutors will argue for a death sentence and must present aggravating factors associated with the crime. They will also attempt to stir the jury away from feelings of sympathy for the defendant, by stating past criminal charges or lack of remorse about the crime. In contrast, defense lawyers will argue against the death penalty, trying to persuade the jury to sentence their clients to life imprisonment instead.
Topic: death-penalty

To do this, defense attorneys introduce mitigating factors such as the defendant’s age, absence of a criminal record, relationships with family members, and character. In some cases, they may use evidence that could facilitate understanding of why the defendant committed the crime, some examples being mental illness, abuse or neglect as a child, etc. Sometimes family and friends of the defendant can testify for them, this is also permitted for families of the victim, which often take this time to speak about their loss and state their preference for a life or death sentence. After all evidence has been presented and following any testimonies, the jury is excused to deliberate once more, this time deciding on a sentence.
Topic: death-penalty

The idea of “swift justice” is thought to be lost in capital punishment cases. Usually, it takes several years from the time a person is convicted of a crime to the actual execution. One of the aspects of death penalty cases that make them so extensive is the appeals process. Generally, following conviction, a defendant has the right to an automatic or “direct” appeal to the state appellate court. Courts are required by law to look at these cases. Evidence presented in a direct appeal is very limited, typically dealing with whether objections were sustained or overruled correctly. Within a year of the direct appeal, death row inmates must file again in order to secure their rights, failure to do so would mean the defendant has chosen to waive their appeals. Incompetency on the part of an attorney or lack of one has resulted in many death row defendants missing appeal deadlines, while some may not even be aware of this procedural right. There is no second opportunity to file for an appeal once the deadline has been missed, regardless of the circumstances.
Topic: death-penalty

The next step in the appeals process is referred to as state post-conviction. The defendant will use this appeal to present any state constitutional claims and any evidence to challenge their conviction. Some of the more prevalent claims made in post-conviction appeals include improper and unprofessional conduct on behalf of the police or prosecution, race discrimination, mishandling or inconsideration of pertinent evidence and inadequate representation on behalf of the defense attorney. Evidence that has been newly discovered or was not available at the time of trial is admissible during this phase of the appeals process. Post-conviction relief is not easy to obtain, an in-depth investigation of the case and all evidence from the trial must be conducted by the defense lawyers. This can be expensive, time consuming and for the many inexperienced and poorly-resourced lawyers that represent these types of inmates, it becomes a challenging task.
Topic: death-penalty

The inability of the defense counsel to provide sufficient mitigating factors and thoroughly investigate a case is the most prevailing failure observed in capital punishment cases. While it is true that many defendants receive inadequate representation, it is very difficult to obtain relief based on ineffective legal assistance. If the court determines that the defendant would have been convicted and sentenced to death regardless of poor legal representation, then there is no entitlement to relief. Should a death row inmate be denied relief in post-state conviction, he can proceed with a final appeal which is now handled by Federal courts, this is referred to as federal habeas. When a defendant has exhausted all appeals, the last option is to ask for clemency from the governor or President, depending on if it is a state or federal death penalty case. Clemency has been known to only be granted in extraordinary cases and is becoming more and more uncommon. (capitalpunishmentincontext.org)
Topic: death-penalty

Today, all of the states that have the death penalty employ the lethal-injection. Oklahoma became the first state to adopt this method of execution in 1977, with the first person being executed by lethal injection being Charles Brooks 5 years later in 1977. (deathpenaltyinfo.org) In preparation, the inmate to be executed is permitted a shower, a change of clothing and a final meal of their choice. At the time of the execution, the prisoner is taken to the execution room and where two IV tubes are inserted into his arms, following, a harmless saline solution is started immediately. Then, when the prison warden gives signal, a curtain is raised exposing the inmate to witnesses in an adjoining room.
Topic: death-penalty

At this time the prison is allowed his final statement. At the conclusion of the inmate’s last words, the execution begins with the drugs being administered as follows: Sodium thiopental: This drug, also known as Pentathol is a barbiturate used as a surgical anesthetic. In surgery, a dose of up to 150mg is used. In execution, up to 5,000 mg are used. This is a lethal dose. From this point on if the prisoner is still alive, he should feel nothing. Pancuronium bromide: Also known as Pavulon, this is a muscle relaxant given in a strong enough dose to paralyse the diaphragm and lungs. This drug takes effect in 1-3 minutes. A normal medical dose is 40 – 100mcg per kilogram; the dose delivered in an execution is up to 100mg.
Topic: death-penalty

The electric chair was an invention by Harold P. Brown who was an employee of Thomas Edison, the sole purpose was to investigate the uses of electricity in executions. The chair was first adopted in 1889 and the first execution took place in 1890 in New York. In execution by electric chair, the prisoner is strapped to the chair with metal straps and a wet sponge is placed in his head to aid conductivity. Electrodes are placed on the head and legs to create a closed circuit. Depending on the physical state of the prisoner, two currents of varying level and duration are applied. This is generally 2,000 volts for 15 seconds for the first current to cause unconsciousness and to stop the heart.
Topic: death-penalty

The second current is usually lowered to 8 amps. The current will normally cause severe damage to internal organs and the body can heat up to 138 °F While unconsciousness should occur within the first second or two, there have been occasions where it has taken much longer, leading people to highly oppose this method of execution. Clean up post-execution is unpleasant, skin has been found melted on the electrodes and the person can lose control of bodily functions, burning of the skin occurs often. 3. Firing Squad
Topic: death-penalty

Many consider the firing squad to be the most honorable method of execution. The carrying out of firing squad executions can vary, but generally the inmate is blindfolded and restrained. A group of men then fire a single bullet into the heart of the condemned. In some cases, one of the shooters is given a blank in order to feel less guilt afterwards. However, none of the shooters know who holds the blank, or if any of them do. Currently in the US, only two states are permitted performing of executions using this method: Idaho and Oklahoma.
Topic: death-penalty

The gas chamber as a method of execution has been used in a considerable number of cases. It was first made popular from its use in German prison camps during World War II where it was used to execute millions in one of the worst genocide cases of the 20th century. Although five states in the US still allow its use, death row inmates in all of those states are given the option to choose the lethal injection instead. In gas chamber executions, the executioner prepares the chamber by placing potassium cyanide pellets into a small compartment beneath the execution chair. The prisoner is then brought in and secured to the chair.
Topic: death-penalty

The chamber is sealed and the executioner pours a quantity of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) through a tube which leads to a holding compartment in the chair. The curtains are drawn back for witnesses to see the execution and the prisoner is asked to make his last statement. After the last statement, a level is thrown by the executioner and the acid mixes with the cyanide pellets generating lethal hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas. The prisoners will generally have been told to take deep breaths in order to speed up unconsciousness, but in most cases they hold their breath. Death from hydrogen cyanide is painful and unpleasant. (aclu.org); (clarkprosecutor.org)
Topic: death-penalty

In American society, deterrence has always served as a justification for support of the death penalty. Numerous studies conducted have failed to indicate a conclusive deterrence effect. For ex, if the death penalty was truly a crime deterrent, then the states that do not have the death penalty would be expected to have higher murder rates. However, it is just the opposite, states that do not employ the death penalty show consistently lower murder rates. In addition, the United States significantly higher murder rates than European countries who do not allow the death penalty. (Fagan)
Topic: death-penalty

The debate for restoration of the death penalty in Australia has been ongoing since the 1985 abolishment of capital punishment in Australia. Following the abolishment of capital punishment, Australia has not seen any rise in the number of homicides and murders, suggesting that execution does not deter criminals. Each time another heinous crime is committed, public outcry reignites the debate on the reintroduction of the death penalty. In Australia today many obstacles are preventing the restoration of the death penalty including the high cost of capital punishment and the history of innocent people being executed however recent political leaders have mentioned that the return of the death penalty could be appropriate.
Topic: death-penalty

This is evident in the _Australian Institute of Criminology_’s article: _”The argument for capital punishment usually hinges on the fear of increasing murder rates. Yet in Queensland, for example, in the decade prior to the abolition of capital punishment (1912-21), there were 131 murders, whereas in the decade following abolition (1923-32) there were 129 murders.”_ (Potas and Walker: 1987)
Topic: death-penalty

_Table 4_ (Potas and Walker: 1987) on the _Australian Institute of Criminology_ article also shows the effects of the abolishment on conviction rates for murder and manslaughter in the major states in Australia. From this graph, it is evident that the abolishment had no major effect on homicide trends in each state with the exception of South Australia. Capital punishment should not be brought back into Australia as execution has not deterred criminals.
Topic: death-penalty

The death penalty should not be brought back in Australia as it would be the Australian taxpayers that would pay the price as capital punishment is very expensive. Although many would believe that keeping a criminal under supervised imprisonment for life would be more expensive than the death penalty, the truth is that capital punishment is actually very expensive and costs much more than life imprisonment. The Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty (ACADP) is a human rights organisation which is dedicated to achieving total abolition of the death penalty in Australia.
Topic: death-penalty

In an article written by ACADP, it is evident that the procedures are longer in a capital case and _’one single capital case could cost…around $5.5 million [and] life imprisonment for 30 years costs $1.5 million.’_ (ACADP: 2003) The process of the capital system could be limited however, creating a cheaper alternative for capital trails but this answer would result in a higher possibility of convicting and executing an innocent person.
Topic: death-penalty

One of the main advantages of abolishing the death penalty is the reduced risk of executing an innocent person. In the past Australia has seen judicial errors including Australia’s last man hanged Ronald Ryan. Ryan was executed in 1967 when accused for murdering a prison guard when attempting to escape Pentridge Prison. _The Australian_’s story on Ronald Ryan states that _”Ryan could not have shot dead a warder during their dramatic escape… because the rifle he was using had jammed”_ (Hughes: 2007) It is now evident for Australia to see that _”the last man hanged in Australia was innocent”_ (Hughes 2007). The death penalty is a denial of human rights and it violates the right to life. The death penalty should not be brought back into Australia because it is neither right nor just to kill an innocent person.
Topic: death-penalty

While there are many reasons against the death penalty, the Australian government has continued the argument about the death penalty since the abolishment in 1985. In 2010, the Death Penalty Abolition Bill was debated in Federal Parliament. If passed, it would block any states attempt to bring back capital punishment. Since the debate, the bill has passed so now individual states have no power to reintroduce the death penalty, it is a federal responsibility. Recent political leaders including Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have mentioned instances where the death penalty might be appropriate. Tony Abbott, the opposition leader at the time, said _’in the case of someone who cold-bloodedly brought about the deaths of hundreds or thousands of innocent people… maybe the only appropriate punishment is death.’_ (Williams: 2010)
Topic: death-penalty

From this, it is evident that there is consideration for the death penalty to be brought back in Australia when an indictable crime is committed. Australian surveys also show a movement towards the restoration of capital punishment since in the Australian National University’s 2007 Electoral Survey ‘_44% of people thought the death penalty should be reintroduced”_ (Williams: 2010). This is an excessive increase from 1986 when capital punishment had only just been abolished where a national survey commissioned revealed ‘_only 26% of respondents felt that the death penalty was appropriate”_ (Potas and Walker: 1987). These statistics show that although Australia does not have the death penalty, the majority of the population supports its return.
Topic: death-penalty

In conclusion, the advantages of continuing the abolishment of the death penalty have overpowered the advantages of restoring the death penalty in Australia. Although Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott believed that capital punishment may be necessary in some cases, Australia has seen no rise the number of murders after the abolishment of the death penalty, therefore overriding the need to have capital punishment. Arguments such as the high cost for the death penalty and the past executions of innocent people also argue against the restoration of capital punishment. There are more arguments against the restoration of capital punishment so it is evident that the government has made the right decision to abolish the death penalty and not to restore it.
Topic: death-penalty

In this article, the Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty deliberates the high cost of capital punishment compared to the cost of life imprisonment. The author uses research from reliable lawyers and court cases to estimate the cost endured for one single capital case and life imprisonment. Their research aims to provide the public reader with reliable information and to warn them the expenses that they too will have to pay if capital punishment were to be brought back into Australia. The article is useful to my topic since the author debates against capital punishment being brought back into Australia due to the major tax increases that Australians would have to pay if it were to be brought back. The article has limitations however since the figures that the author has provided for the cost of both trials has only been estimated and without taking into account of any rising costs. Nonetheless this article is still relevant and will form one of my arguments to continue the abolishment of capital punishment in Australia.
Topic: death-penalty

In this article, Hughes explains the hanging of Australian’s last man; Ronald Ryan and how after 40 years, Ryan has been declared innocent. The author had used information coming from Ryan’s former accomplice as well as information from the trial in 1967 and more recent forensic information to uncover the mystery that has been ongoing for the last 40 years as to whether Ronald Ryan really did kill a prison guard or not. The article focuses on informing the public of the decision made by the Australian Government which has been proven to be wrong.
Topic: death-penalty

This article is useful as research for my essay as Hughes shows how the death penalty has executed innocent people in the past which is one of the reasons why Australia should not re-introduce capital punishment. This article is a limited source of information since it only discusses one innocent man that was executed in Australia. It is still useful however since it does show that capital punishment is not always judged correctly, executing innocent people. This article will be useful from my essay to debate whether the death penalty should or should not be brought back to Australia as it will give me another arguing point.
Topic: death-penalty

This article is useful as research for my essay as it gives information and statistics that help to support that the death penalty should not be brought back. The main limitation is that the article was written in 1987 which was only three years since the last state in Australia abolished the death penalty so the public’s opinion on it may have changed since this time. However, statistics and facts used from the time cannot be changed and still provide relevant and necessary information for my research. This article will provide a well-structured argument for my essay since it provides the reader with many interesting statistics and facts.
Topic: death-penalty

On February 23, 2005 a nine-year old girl in Homosassa, Florida disappeared after attending a Wednesday evening church service. She was missing for almost 3 weeks before police found her body in a trash bag, holding a purple stuffed dolphin, in a grave no more than 3 feet deep. Publicly released autopsy reports said that the little girl, Jessica Lunsford, who dreamed of being a fashion designer and Olympic swimmer, had managed to tear two fingers through the garbage bag before suffocating to death.
Topic: death-penalty

Couey’s niece, Madie Secord, testified to purchasing a bus ticket in her name to Savannah, Ga., at her uncle’s request after Jessica went missing. Upon burying Jessica Lunsford alive, Couey fled to Georgia in hopes of avoiding discovery and criminal charges. He was arrested in Augusta for violating probation charges (crossing state lines without informing authorities). Couey was one of the registered sex offenders police tried to find after Jessica’s disappearance. After being taken into custody, he confessed to the charges after a FBI administered polygraph test. However, because the officer’s denied him his Miranda rights, the confession was not admissible into court. He was charged with capital murder, burglary with battery, kidnapping and sexual battery on a child less than 12 years of age, but he pleaded not guilty.
Topic: death-penalty

In order to have a more impartial jury, the trial was moved to Miami. Besides Couey’s confession (which was not admissible in court because officers ignored his requests of lawyer presence), investigators also found Jessica’s fingerprints in Couey’s closet as well as her blood and his semen on his mattress. DNA analyst Roshale Gaytmenn also testified that she found the DNA profiles of Jessica and Couey on pillows that were found in Couey’s room. The jury also viewed the stereo speaker wires that were used to bind Jessica’s wrists. A fiber analyst testified that the ligatures matched wires that ran from inside Couey’s room to an antenna on his roof.
Topic: death-penalty

The defense claims that Couey suffered from mental retardation caused by a brain damage, lifelong substance abuse and an abusive childhood. John Couey’s troubles supposedly began when his biological father pushed his teenage mother out of a moving car when she was seven months pregnant with him. Couey was born prematurally a few weeks later. He claims that his mother fed him sugar water rather than formula and his stepfather beat him and tied him to a bed once as punishment for bedwetting. When his mother freed him from his restraints, the man allegedly chased after him and slammed his head repeatedly in a door. As a child he was said to be shy, quiet and withdrawn, possibly as a result of his speech impediment and oversized ears, for which he was teased.
Topic: death-penalty

Public defender, Alan Fanter said Couey suffered from mental retardation and paranoid delusions brought on by childhood trauma that made him incapable of sound decision-making. He has the “mind of a child”. Couey suffered from visual and auditory hallucinations that dated back to his early childhood, when he and his sister were shuffled among different relatives after leaving their mother, according to forensic psychologist Dr. Robert Berland. Berland said he based his conclusions on interviews with Couey’s relatives, including an aunt, his sister and his cousin, but that most of the information came from an interview with Couey in July 2006. Couey’s aunt, Virginia Kloetzer, testified in a videotaped interview that, while Couey was living with her family, he once cut up her nightgown into shreds.
Topic: death-penalty

“He said, “My mind told me to do it,'” said Kloetzer, who took Couey in when he was 5 and kept him for about four years. “I said, ‘Next time your mind tells you to do something that’s not right, you tell it “no.”‘”His half sister (whom he lived in the house with), claims that she and Couey had shared a “small” rock of cocaine the night he abducted Jessica. However, she denied having any knowledge that Jessica was ever in the trailer. Dr. Robert Berland, who administered Couey’s IQ test, said that the results were several points below the medical standard for retardation. He credited his IQ to childhood brain damage and a tendency for sniffing glue and gas as a teen.
Topic: death-penalty

Gene Secord, Couey’s nephew, testified that Couey had told him, while they were in jail together in 2006, that Jessica’s death was “in the past” and that if his sister had loved him more, the murder would not have occurred. To earn an official pardon from a death sentence, lawyers for Couey, who spent most of his trial doodling in coloring books, must convince 5th Circuit Judge Richard Howard that he actually suffers from mental retardation, a burden that experts in the field describe as an “uphill battle.” A Florida law, as well as a decision made in 2002 by the Supreme Court states that offenders with mental retardation cannot be executed.
Topic: death-penalty

The court can chose between two sentences, the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole, the only two options available in accordance with Florida law. The jury only adjourned for 4 hours before reaching a 10-2 verdict that imposes the death penalty. The jurors’ decision, which does not need to be unanimous, is an advisory sentence to Judge Richard Howard, who makes the final decision. Judge Howard will hear evidence from both sides to determine whether or not Couey is deserving of mercy, and issue a formal ruling on August 10, 2007.
Topic: death-penalty

Since the 2005 murder, Mark Lunsford, Jessica’s Father had pushed for stricter sex offender laws. The “Jessica Lunsford Act” has already passed as a law in Florida. It calls for “prison sentences of 25 years to life for sex offenses against children under age 12, better registration of convicted sex offenders and a GPS notification system to track down probation violators.”Fortunately, some good came out of such a horrific crime.