Capital Punishment Australia

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Capital punishment is an act of legally killing someone for committing an offence as a result of punishment. Capital punishment which is informally known as the death sentence started in South Australia in 1840 and has ended in 1976. During that period there were 66 hangings in South Australia and 45 of those have been committed in the Adelaide Gaol. When the criminal receives the sentence, they would be limited to 21 days until their execution. When the law first began, public hangings would have a crowd of over 2,000 people viewing the tragic event. Over time, the hangings became private with only the prisoner and two officers. The officers would tie the hands and ankles of the prisoner while placing a hood over their heads. When the body …show more content…

The environment was safer knowing that they would live in a world where they would have no serious criminals. It was also social progress because this act would stop crimes from being committed if citizens knew about the harsh consequences.

A strong number of people believe that the death sentence needs to be reintroduced into South Australia for the reasons that it is the ultimate warning for criminal behaviour, it provides closure for the victims and loved ones and criminals should get what they deserve. A criminal’s thoughts will change knowing that they would receive the death penalty if they are caught. They would constantly live in fear knowing that their life would be taken away. If capital punishment was reintroduced there would be a lower rate of crimes that are committed out of the fright that the criminals would have.

Taking someone else’s life is also murder, even if they commit a crime. It is a hypocritical form of punishment and does not teach the criminal anything. Their chance of changing the act is forbidden. The crime is not solved if the criminal is punished by death. Another point to abolishing the death penalty is that there is also a great risk of executing innocent people. The death sentence is not reversible like being sentenced to prison. If capital punishment is reintroduced into Australia, more innocent lives will be …show more content…

Laws are changed in order to cater views and beliefs of the time. The society has a strong religious influence that are brought up by morals taught. Social values intend to relate to areas of importance like education, health and the environment. Political values are more about the legal and political system. The law changes according to the political views of the citizens. Economical values are laws that justify businesses and work rates. It is a measure of the goods and services provided by an economical source. Religious values are ethical customs that are practised within traditions and beliefs. If the death sentence is reintroduced in Australia it will degrade the morals and values of the nation. Society will not grow if the historical punishments stay the same. Based on these 5 values the parliament create laws that are in favour. Although it is difficult for every law to cater each value, the parliament has the ability to establish new laws, adopt or change existing laws and abolish

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