In criminal law, the death penalty has been a topic worthy of study. It has been discussed on several occasions, considering that the penalty authorizes judges to take someone's life under the law. Whether morally correct or not, this penalty, among all others, has been a source of concern for many. This is one of the reasons why the number of executions has decreased in the 21st century. Not only that, but most countries and states have also reformulated their death penalty statutes. On the other hand, if we speak specifically of the United States, the death penalty only applies to crimes such as murder.
Definition of the death penalty
Capital punishment is another word for the death penalty. The death penalty authorizes a judge to execute a criminal and sentence them to death after the trial has concluded. Since the death penalty or capital punishment involves a full trial, it should not be confused with extrajudicial execution. In extrajudicial execution, there is no legal process for the executions to take place.
Some facts about the death penalty
- By the end of 2019, some 106 countries had completely abolished the death penalty.
- Of all countries, China keeps its execution figures private. That is, they don't publicly announce the number of people executed.
- In 2012, the number of executions increased in Japan.
- The United States is by far the fifth country in the ranking of countries with the highest execution rate.
- In 2017, for the second consecutive year, the United States was not among the top five countries for executions.
- In 2017, around twenty-three nations had nine hundred and ninety-three executions.
- According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, about fifty-four percent of Americans favor the death penalty for murderers, and thirty-nine percent oppose it.
Crimes punishable by death
- Murder
- Rape
- Betrayal
- Drug traffic
- Aircraft hijacking
- Espionage
- Bombing near a bus terminal
States that follow the death penalty
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Mountain
- Nebraska
- Snowfall
- N.H.
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah Virginia
- Wyoming
Amnesty International and the death penalty
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization based in the United Kingdom. The organization focuses on and addresses human rights, with approximately seven million members and supporters worldwide. Amnesty International opposes the idea of the death penalty because, according to them, it violates one of the most important and inherent human rights: the right to life. According to Amnesty International, the death penalty is one of the most inhuman, cruel, and degrading forms of punishment that deprives us of the right to life.
Conclusion
Despite all the debates surrounding the death penalty, it continues to be practiced worldwide. Criminal justice makes it legal for the court and the state to deprive someone of their right to life as a strict measure against a crime. Be sure to educate yourself on the topic so you don't miss any details about criminal law and the death penalty.
