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    This document discusses capital punishment and provides historical context and perspectives on the issue. It begins by defining capital punishment as a way to punish criminals who have committed murder. The death penalty was first used in the Jamestown Colony in 1608 and 30 states still use it today, though support is declining. The document examines perspectives like the costs, risks of executing innocents, and debates around abortion. It explores audiences affected by the issue and major points of debate, like morality and relevance. The long term effect may be a loss of faith in the judicial system due to flaws in how the death penalty is carried out.

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    Research Presentation

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    139 views7 pages
    This document discusses capital punishment and provides historical context and perspectives on the issue. It begins by defining capital punishment as a way to punish criminals who have committed murder. The death penalty was first used in the Jamestown Colony in 1608 and 30 states still use it today, though support is declining. The document examines perspectives like the costs, risks of executing innocents, and debates around abortion. It explores audiences affected by the issue and major points of debate, like morality and relevance. The long term effect may be a loss of faith in the judicial system due to flaws in how the death penalty is carried out.

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    This document discusses capital punishment and provides historical context and perspectives on the issue. It begins by defining capital punishment as a way to punish criminals who have committed murder. The death penalty was first used in the Jamestown Colony in 1608 and 30 states still use it today, though support is declining. The document examines perspectives like the costs, risks of executing innocents, and debates around abortion. It explores audiences affected by the issue and major points of debate, like morality and relevance. The long term effect may be a loss of faith in the judicial system due to flaws in how the death penalty is carried out.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    139 views7 pages

    Research Presentation

    Uploaded by

    api-457731437
    This document discusses capital punishment and provides historical context and perspectives on the issue. It begins by defining capital punishment as a way to punish criminals who have committed murder. The death penalty was first used in the Jamestown Colony in 1608 and 30 states still use it today, though support is declining. The document examines perspectives like the costs, risks of executing innocents, and debates around abortion. It explores audiences affected by the issue and major points of debate, like morality and relevance. The long term effect may be a loss of faith in the judicial system due to flaws in how the death penalty is carried out.

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    Capital Punishment

    Nikolas Parker College Composition II


    Tuesday-Thursday 9:30-10:45 AM
    How Is the Issue Defined and What Is its Historical Context?
    Capital Punishment is defined as a way to punish criminals who
    have taken the life/lives of an individual/individuals. The death
    penalty was first used by Americans in the Jamestown Colony of
    Virginia in 1608. Captain George Kendall was executed because
    it was discovered that he was a spy for the Spanish. Since this
    instance, capital punishment has become a possible sentence
    when found guilty for a murder. As of 2018, 30 states still
    participate in acts of capital punishment. Some people feel as
    though the death penalty is still a justifiable way to punish
    murderers while others seriously doubt the morality of this type
    of sentencing. As we go farther into the 21st century, less and
    less people agree that the death penalty should be used.

    States With and Without the Death Penalty. (n.d.). Retrieved


    from
    https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty
    What Is the Significance of the Issue from Multiple Perspectives?
    Abortion:The question of “What exactly is a murder?” is constantly brought up when The Cost:When a death penalty is on the table for a possible
    discussing the death penalty. A controversial issue that co-exists with the idea of capital sentence, the case transforms into a much more expensive procedure.
    punishment is abortion. Some people believe that abortion is a form of murder and More expensive lawyers are needed, more expert witnesses are
    required to attend, and the case is elongated. Richard C. Dieter,
    should warrant some sort of criminal charge. Some activists argue that the parents of the
    executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, analyzed
    child should receive the death penalty if they decide to abort the child since they are
    a study that outlined where tax money went to and stated, “In
    technically ending it’s life. Unfortunately, there are several instances where a young child Maryland, a comprehensive cost study by the Urban Institute in 2008
    is raped and is impregnated by their attacker. If the women decides to abort the child, is it estimated the extra costs to taxpayers for death penalty cases
    fair to punish that women with the death penalty? These types of outliers cause a lot of prosecuted between 1978 and 1999 to be $186 million. Based on the 5
    confusion about what constitutes to the sentencing of the death penalty. executions carried out in the state, this translates to a cost of $37
    million per execution” (Dieter, 2015, p.1). Since many people that are
    put on this type of trial end up not receiving the death penalty, it
    False Accusations:To receive the death penalty, one must have been found guilty of seems like a waste of money.
    one or more counts of murder. However, there are several faults in the judicial system
    that can lead to the death of an innocent person. These faults include: inaccurate forensic
    analysis, corruption within the case, etc. Joseph Shapiro, author of “How Should Society
    Punish A Murder?”, states, “The Risk of Executing the Innocent makes the Death Penalty
    Unfair… For every 7 executions—486 since 1976—1 other prisoner on death row has
    been found innocent” (Shapiro, 2005, p. 1). The risk of killing an innocent person is too
    high to warrant the death penalty being a viable way to punish someone for their In Conclusion:Each group of people feel that this issue is
    wrongdoings. significant and starting to become an outdated practice.
    Who Are the Audiences Involved/Affected By the Issue?
    Why Are They Engaged in the Issue and How Does the Issue Affect Them?

    Audiences involved include: common folk, criminals, and state officials. State officials vote every year to determine
    whether or not their respective state will keep the death penalty or abolish it. Interestingly, in 2009 New Mexico
    abolished the death penalty but kept two prisoners on death row. Any criminal that had received the death penalty
    prior to it’s abolishment will still carry on their sentence. Civilians are the main audience for this issue and have the
    largest influence on how the death penalty is perceived. Lawyers, tax payers, and common folk control the morality
    of killing someone as a result of their actions. We have the power to say if capital punishment is right or wrong. The
    idea of killing someone over their poor decisions affects everyone because it acts as a huge deterrent for people. If
    you know that you can die over murdering someone, you might not go through with it. Civilians are the main group
    who want to make a change. This change could be for some sort of monetary issue, morality issue, or something
    greater.
    What Are the Major Points of Debate Surrounding the Issue and
    Why is the Debate Still Unresolved?
    The major points of debate that surround the issue include, the morality of the death penalty, the relevancy of the
    death penalty, and the prosecution that leads to the sentencing of the death penalty. The debate is still unresolved
    because, as a community, we cannot decide if it is okay to kill someone for an action that they committed. Also, they
    are controversies surrounding what counts as a “murder”. Many people have started to doubt the reasoning behind
    capital punishment and are starting to realize that the risk of killing an innocent person and the cost is too high. If the
    common people stick with their beliefs, capital punishment will soon fade away. Markus Suratt, author of
    INCENTIVIZED INFORMANTS, BRADY, RUIZ, AND WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT: REQUIRING PRE-PLEA
    DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE, argues that “Concerned citizens, attorneys, and
    scholars are beginning to ask more questions as these stories receive increased nationwide attention: what should we
    do about false incentivized informant testimony? What can we do?” (Suratt, 2018, p. 2). Corruption within a police
    force can lead to the false imprisonment of an individual. This can lead to an innocent man being killed by the death
    penalty. This debate on how to handle capital punishment will only be resolved if there is a better way to give out
    sentences for the death penalty.
    What Is the Long Term Effect of the Issue?
    The long term effect of capital punishment is that it can lead to a loss faith in our judicial system. People are already
    beginning to dislike the idea of the death penalty, and it seems as though the process is never accurately carried out.
    Dates are constantly rescheduled, charges are dropped, sentences lowered, or innocence is found. It can feel as
    though the government is toying with one’s life. They have complete control over whether or not this person lives or
    dies. In today’s society, there are way too many caveats that can lead to the, potentially, unjust murder of a person.
    Capital punishment is the ultimate form of penalty for a crime and can be analyzed under a variety of lenses and
    perspectives.
    Sources

    Dieter, Richard C. "The Death Penalty Is Too Costly for Society." Death Penalty, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2015.
    Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
    http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010955216/OVIC?u=rowan&sid=OVIC&xid=bc7e8fb3. Accessed 20 Feb. 2019.
    Originally published as "Testimony of Richard C. Dieter, Executive Director, Death Penalty Information Center," 2013.

    Jones, Sarah. "How Should Society Punish a Murder?" Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Opposing Viewpoints in
    Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/YRZPLH255915787/OVIC?u=rowan&sid=OVIC&xid=72b0e9c3. Accessed 19
    Feb. 2019. Originally published as "How Should Society Punish a Murder?" The New Republic, 30 Mar. 2018.

    Shapiro, Joseph P. "The Risk of Executing the Innocent Makes the Death Penalty Unfair." The Ethics of Capital Punishment, edited
    by Nick Fisanick, Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
    http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010313206/OVIC?u=rowan&sid=OVIC&xid=3174da5c. Accessed 19 Feb. 2019.
    Originally published as "The Wrong Men on Death Row," U.S. News & World Report, vol. 125, 9 Nov. 1998.

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