Is Capital Punishment a Human Way to Deal with Criminals?

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Capital Punishment has been around for as long as there has been written language. It has been used all over the world, in different cultures, and has been executed in different styles. In the past, the death penalty was taken for granted for almost any crime you can think of (Garland). However in today’s society, the question has been asked if Capital Punishment is a humane way to deal with criminals. For most of recorded human history, there has always been records of the death penalty. Most of which were usually extremely painful or just outright disturbing. One of the most disturbing periods in history where the death penalty was widely enforced would be in late 18th century, in France. This time period is also known as the “Reign of Terror.”(Brown) During this time period, the citizens of France would not have trials for the crimes they were accused of. In many cases, this would mean that if you were accused of a crime you were going to be executed. In France, the death penalty of choice would be through the Guillotine. This method was cruel and unusual. It would put the person who was sentenced to death in the center of town so that everyone can see. The only thing that made the Guillotine a somewhat respected form of execution was “that this was the swiftest and least painful mode of death.”(Smith 33), at least for that time period. In today’s society, many argue that the death penalty is inhumane. They call it a form of torture because the convicted wait so long on death row for their execution date. However, according to the United Nations Convention, it is not a form of torture. The United Nations Convention defines torture as “Torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is... ... middle of paper ... ...10): 503-535. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Smith, Philip. “Narrating the Guillotine: Punishment Technology as Myth and Symbol” Theory, Culture & Society October 2003 vol. 20 no. 5 27-51. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Alarcón, Judge Arthur L., and Paula M. Mitchell. "Executing The Will Of The Voters?: A Roadmap To Mend Or End The California Legislature's Multi-Billion-Dollar Death Penalty Debacle." Loyola Of Los Angeles Law Review 44.3 (2011): S41-S224. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. Lamperti, John. "Does Capital Punishment Deter Murder?." Dartmouth.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. . Gross, Samuel R., et al. "Exonerations In The United States 1989 Through 2003." Journal Of Criminal Law & Criminology 95.2 (2005): 523-560. Academic Search Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.

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