Capital Punishment :: essays research papers fc

Introduction This day in age murderers’ actions are getting more and more incomprehensive. They are no longer just committing murder: they are torturing, mutilating, and engaging in grossly inappropriate acts against fellow human beings. Behaviors such as this will continue if nothing is done to stop them. The death penalty is a humane way to punish the convicted and deter these gruesome acts. Early as 1930, we can find the first recorded execution. Between the times of 1930 to 1967 there was a recorded number of 3,859 people executed. The following nine years would bring victory for those against capital punishment, there was no executions done in this time frame. Gregg vs. Georgia, Supreme Court of 1976 made a ruling that â€Å"the death penalty does not violate the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment.† The death penalty has been accepted by thirty-nine states of America (Newton, 1983).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the basics in understanding capital punishment is the methods of which are used. Which will be the first of things I will be presenting. I will be showing how selections of death row are made. The last of subject matters that I will be touching on are the problems with the process of capital punishment and a possible more effective approach. I will also be concluding my findings and ending with a thought of my own. Methods of Execution In the United States today, there are five existing methods of execution. These methods are used to kill convicted criminals that have been given the sentence of the death penalty. The different methods are; lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging, and firing squad shootings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lethal injection is currently used by thirty-six states in America. It is the most commonly used from of execution in the U.S. The preparation begins outside of the chamber with the use of a gurney. The convict is held to the gurney by wrist and ankle straps. There is then a cardiac monitor and stethoscope attached and started. In each arm there is a saline intravenous line. The convict is then covered by a sheet. The lines are turned off and the felon receives the first injection of sodium thiopental. This puts the felon to sleep. They are then injected with Pavulon, which relaxes all of the muscles in the body and stops breathing. Shortly after, the felon dies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next method of execution used is electrocution. This method is done by putting the person in a wooden chair, which they are secured to by leather straps.