Capital Punishment

8 Pages 1901 Words

Mead Shumway of Nebraska was convicted of the first degree murder of his employer’s wife on circumstantial evidence and sentenced to death by jury. His last words before his execution were: “I am an innocent man, may God forgive everyone who said anything against me.” The next year, on his deathbed, the victim’s husband confessed that it was he who had murdered her (his wife) and not Mead Shumway (Radelet, Bedau, Putnam 347).

It is a rare occasion to go through an entire day in this world and not hear news about rape, murders, homicides, and other such tragedies. Over the years, there has been much controversy over the issues as to what should be the worst punishment for the ones guilty of committing these heinous crimes.

The most severe form of punishment of all legal sentences is that of death, often referred to as “death penalty” or “capital punishment.” In the world, it is known that at least 2500 prisoners are executed in at least 37 different countries, on an annual basis.

Is the death penalty a cruel and unusual punishment or is it now just a necessary tool in the war against crime? With today’s increase in crime and violence in our society, the death penalty, affects every American whether interested or not, and has existed for quite some time now. Another Question posed is whether society even has the right, morally or otherwise, to execute its violent offenders and aren’t those who assist in the death penalty not partners in crime?


Historical Background:
Since ancient times, capital punishment has been used around the world as a lawful punishment tool. Evidence of capital punishment can be found in the earliest historical records. Its use has been advocated throughout history from the eighteenth century Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon, to the Roman law of the Twelve Tablets, to medieval Europe, to the forefathers of America (Kronenwetter, 71-72). Moreover, capital punishment is still us...