Capital Punishment Discussion Forum
The theme of the first discussion forum in the class is Capital Punishment.
First of all, in order to prepare for this discussion, you should conduct some research on capital punishment in America. Which states still use capital punishment for murderers? Where is capital punishment outlawed? Do statistics prove that there is a correlation between the use of capital punishment and the number of murders in a particular state?
Also keep in mind the following questions:
1. Does the fact that capital punishment is not universally and uniformly administered in the United States argue against its use?
2. Does the fact that only a few countries in the world employ capital punishment provide an argument against it?
3. How do special circumstances (“specials”) affect the administration of capital punishment? Do you think that this is fair? Is it saying that a police officer or firefighter is more important than a doctor or a lawyer?
Make a strong initial post (at least six sentences). Then reply to the posts made by at least four classmates (3-4 sentences each), for a total of 5 posts to get the highest grade on Discussions. Make sure you make the posts before the due date.
Capital Punishment Discussion Forum
The theme of the first discussion forum in the class is Capital Punishment.
First of all, in order to prepare for this discussion, you should conduct some research on capital punishment in America. Which states still use capital punishment for murderers? Where is capital punishment outlawed? Do statistics prove that there is a correlation between the use of capital punishment and the number of murders in a particular state?
Also keep in mind the following questions:
1. Does the fact that capital punishment is not universally and uniformly administered in the United States argue against its use?
2. Does the fact that only a few countries in the world employ capital punishment provide an argument against it?
3. How do special circumstances (“specials”) affect the administration of capital punishment? Do you think that this is fair? Is it saying that a police officer or firefighter is more important than a doctor or a lawyer?
Make a strong initial post (at least six sentences). Then reply to the posts made by at least four classmates (3-4 sentences each), for a total of 5 posts to get the highest grade on Discussions. Make sure you make the posts before the due date.
Reply
Replies
NM
Ncutukazi Mketo (She/Her/Hers)
Jul 1, 2024 at 12:04 AM
Hi Class! I am excited to begin this course and to interact with all of you! This week’s discussion topic is a really interesting topic and one that I found interesting to research and learn about. I am interested to see everyones thoughts on this controversial topic.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Capital Punishment is defined as “the process of sentencing convicted offenders to death for the most serious crimes (capital crimes) and carrying out that sentence. The specific offenses and circumstances that determine if a crime is eligible for a death sentence are defined by statute and are prescribed by Congress or any state legislature” (Bureau of Justice Statistics). As that definition states, the determination of crimes that are eligible for the death sentence are defined by specific state legislature, meaning it will vary depending on the laws of that particular state. This brings to question the fairness of capital punishment as there are inconsistent laws in place across the nation. Because of this inconsistency, this means that similar crimes can have extremely different penalties for those crimes depending on the state in which the crime occurred. In the United States, there are currently 27 states that have legalized Capital Punishment. To make an example, a murder that was committed in Georgia might result in being sentenced to death, while a similar murder in New Jersey could result in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. This inconsistency across varying states brings to question the concept of equal rights, a principle of the U.S. constitution. There is no question that the death penalty has always been, and still to this day continues to be, disproportionately used against Black people and people of color. In fact, research suggests that the death row population is over 41% Black, even though Black people make up about 13% of the U.S. population (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers). As of 2019, 53% of death row inmates were black or hispanic (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers). These statistics highlight the overwhelming systemic biases that exist within the United States justice system. Around the world, the death penalty has continued to decline. In fact, since 1976, more than 85 nations have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while others have abolished it for ordinary crimes (Death Penalty Information Center). This demonstrates a global trend towards recognizing capital punishment as a violation of human rights.
Special circumstances can often be attributed to the murder of police officers or firefighters. Crimes in this nature can make certain cases more likely to result in the death sentence. The role of Police officers and Firefighters are considered high risk jobs. Often, crimes against people in these particular careers are considered more offensive, which can result in harsher penalties for committing these crimes. This can be seen as valuing certain lives over the lives of others, and this certainly is not fair or equitable. The idea that one life is inherently more valuable than another is a complete contradiction to the principle of equal justice for all. The incorporation of special circumstances in capital punishment only further reinforces biases and inequalities, particularly against those of color. When it comes to the overall integrity of the death penalty as a punitive measure, I firmly believe it is outdated and should be entirely abolished. Special circumstances in particular can further perpetuate a system where the worth of a victim’s life is judged based on their profession, rather than the value of human life as a whole. When these crimes become public and national, they spark social discourse and can create national divides. Rather than uniting a nation, these cases can further create a deep divide that can take decades to overcome.
Works Cited
Bureau of Justice Statistics. “Capital Punishment.” Bureau of Justice Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 18 Feb. 2021, bjs.ojp.gov/topics/corrections/capital-punishment.
Death Penalty Information Center. “Countries That Have Abolished the Death Penalty since 1976.” Death Penalty Information Center, 2020, deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/international/countries-that-have-abolished-the-death-penalty-since-1976.
National Association of Criminal Defense
