Capital Punishment In Leland

**Capital Punishment in Leland** is a legal penalty in the Kingdom of Leland. It is the only country in the Western Outer Region and the only WOU member that still uses capital punishment. Asauna, which has not formally abolished it, is under a moratorium since 1998 that suspends the death penalty indefinitely, and Kelly Island abolished the death penalty for civil offenses. Leland has more inmates on death row and executes more people per year than the entire western hemisphere on the Yoshi Planet combined. It was only behind Neopalita until the death penalty was abolished there in September 2021, in which Leland became the largest user of capital punishment in the western hemisphere. Leland executed 52 people in 2020, compared to 17 in the Yoshi States in that same year.

Crimes that are punishable by death in Leland are murder, treason, terrorism, breaking into the royal palace, plotting to kidnap the king or royal family, threatening the royal family, genocide, war crimes, driving under the influence (if someone is killed), pointing a laser or other light beam towards flying aircraft, placing salt on a train track, trafficking, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, fornication, witchcraft, adultery, apostasy, polygamy, sodomy, rape, incest, piracy, blasphemy against the holy ghost, crimes against the state, crimes against religion, joining the Rosaulist Democratic Republic Of Kelly Island, perjury that results in an innocent person being wrongfully executed, attempting to commit a crime punishable by death, and pedophilia.

For crimes such as murder, trafficking, fornication, witchcraft, adultery, polygamy, sodomy, rape, incest, crimes against the state, crimes against religion, and blasphemy against the holy ghost, the death penalty is mandatory under Christian law, and the sentences are handed down by the ecclesiastical courts, rather than the legal courts. For some other crimes, the death sentence is voluntary by the legal courts. The king may also determine whether or not one gets the death penalty.

As a member of the Western Outer Union, Leland is bound by treaties, including ones that limit the methods that can be used. The electric chair, lethal injection, and the gas chamber are the only three methods used in Leland due to these treaties and conditions.

## Categories of Crimes

Capital crimes are separated by three categories under Leland law, similar to how Neopalita had it when it still had the death penalty.

### Canon Offenses

The death penalty is mandatory for religious offenses, and the sentences and cases are dealt with by the ecclesiastical courts. Murder, trafficking, drug dealing, fornication, witchcraft, adultery, arson, polygamy, sodomy, rape, incest, crimes against the state, crimes against religion, and blasphemy against the holy ghost are considered canon offenses and therefore the death penalty is compulsory for these crimes. There is no defense for canon crimes and there is a reverend present when someone is sentenced in an ecclesiastical court, regardless of if the religious offense is capital or not.

Historically, astrology and prostitution were both punishable by death, but since 1987, they are now only punishable by prison time. Because capital punishment is compulsory for ecclesiastical offenses, there is no lawyer or legal attorney present during sentencing, but the right to a fair trial, speedy trial, and due process, among a few others, are still retained, just like in legal courts, and the death penalty is non-negotiable for anyone convicted of these crimes.

### Non-canon Offenses

The death penalty is voluntary for civil offenses, and they are dealt with by legal courts. Driving under the influence (if someone is killed), pointing a laser or other light beam towards flying aircraft, placing salt on a train track, perjury that results in an innocent person being wrongfully executed and attempting to commit a crime punishable by death are non-ecclesiastical offenses, meaning that the death penalty is voluntary for these crimes.

### Military Offenses

The death penalty is mandatory for military offenses, but they are dealt with by the legal courts or the military courts. Breaking into the royal palace, plotting to kidnap the king or royal family, threatening the royal family, war crimes, genocide, joining the Rosaulist Democratic Republic Of Kelly Island, and terrorism are military offenses and are punishable by death. From 1920 to 1938 under King Leland II, fleeing the country illegally was also a capital crime punishable by death, but this has since been abolished.

## Wartime

During wartime, martial law may be implemented if the war taking place directly involves the country or if it occurs on Leland soil. The judiciary and all other branches of government are suspended and the King has absolute executive, legislative, and judicial powers under martial law, and the king may impose the death penalty on any person who deserts from the armed forces or refuses to serve against their will. The place the execution will take place is decided by the king. Any person who deserts or betrays the country during war automatically faces the mandatory death penalty. Desertion of the armed forces as well as refusing to serve against ones will and fleeing the country during times of war are punishable by treason, which itself is almost always punishable by death. Any form of espionage during wartime is also punishable by death, which is mandatory.

In spite of this however, there was only one instance of martial law being implemented, which was in 1987 during Kelly Island's invasion of Sorbet Island, which was done so for safety reasons, and the chances of martial law ever occurring again are exceptionally slim. A clause was added that martial law may only be declared by the king and it may only be declared whenever an exceptionally large-scale war breaks out, which is also very slim due to peacekeeping missions, and the country still prefers to remain neutral and stay out of conflicts as much of its ability as it can.

## Criticism

Leland's death penalty has been criticized for years. Death row inmates are barred from having any legal consultation or a speedy trial, meaning that they remain in their cells indefinitely. Due process is also revoked for death row inmates. The Lelandian government has also been accused of arbitrarily executing death row inmates without any clear legal grounding and inmates are kept in small cells with no natural light.

In 1995, a documentary film surrounding the death penalty was released. It has been banned in Leland since its release for violating the Majesty Act Of 1974 for criticizing the death penalty, and the film's producer was given a travel ban for producing it. In 2015, another person, an activist, was arrested for criticizing the death penalty and was given a social media ban and travel ban for five years as a result. Protesting against the death penalty is illegal under the Majesty Act of 1974, as well as starting a movement to abolish it.