On June 20, 2002 the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a monumental decision in Atkins vs. Virginia, declaring in a six to three decision, that it is unconstitutional for any state to utilize the death penalty on mentally retarded offenders, sparing Daryl Renard Atkins life. In the following days the Supreme Court also made another historical decision by proclaiming, the death penalty verdict in a capital punishment case may only be granted by a jury, and not by a single judge. Neither of these two outcomes abolishes the death penalty, instead the new rulings set guidelines to the controversial issue of the death penalty. The death penalty in its new current state is reflecting this country's movement to viewing this important issue by way of conflict theory rather than that of the past which consisted of an order perspective.
In the case heard by the Supreme Court, Daryl Renard Atkins was accused of going into a convenience store with a hidden handgun and began to ask people for money. Eric Nesbitt a 21 year old airman entered the store and talked to Mr. Atkins and proceeded to leave. Mr. Atkins then followed Eric to his truck forced his way into it. He then robbed Eric of his money and insisted he drive to an atm to withdraw the remaining cash in his account. After Daryl received all the money from Eric he drove Eric's truck to a deserted field in Yorktown where he shot Eric eight times killing him instantly. Although just listening to the details of the murder makes some wonder how, Daryl who had a clear motive, was not granted the death penalty. In Daryl's defense it is proven fact that he has an IQ of 59, which is equivalent to the ability of a child between the age of nine and twelve. His defense team proved his mildly mental retardation by looking at his school transcripts that showed he had failed the second and tenth grade and received a grade point average of 1.
It stands for the total abolition of the death penalty but allows states parties to retain the death penalty in time of war. ... Some states have already abolished the death penalty. ... Some people think the death penalty is fair. ... The death penalty is a global issue. ... The death penalty isn't a way to prevent crime. ...
Currently, there have been over 1,000 deaths due to the death penalty since 1976 (Death Penalty Information Center). ... There are many different forms of execution used in the death penalty. ... Three years later in 2009, New Mexico repealed the death penalty. ... The death penalty gives most people a sense of security in many states. ... The Catholic religion is the religion most against the death penalty. ...
I am against the death penalty. ... "A new survey by the New York Times found that states without the death penalty have lower homicide rates than states with the death penalty" ("Facts" 6). ... My last reason for my opposition to the death penalty is its constitutionality, whether or not the death penalty should be legal. ... "The Death Penalty on Trial." ... "Debating the Death Penalty." ...
The Old Testament clearly calls for the death penalty on many occasions. ... In the case of the death penalty, an individual kills another human being and he is punished for it by death. ... Statistics from the Death Penalty Information Center (1997) show that the death penalty does not really deter crime. When comparisons are made between states with the death penalty and states without it, the majority of the death penalty states show murder rates higher than non-death penalty states. ... In 1996, death penalty states averaged a rate of 7.1 criminal homicides per 100,000, while non-death pen...
(Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty Website) The main argument that advocates for the death penalty have is that the death penalty deters crime, that the threat of execution is enough to make criminals think twice about committing a capital crime. ... Clearly, by the time he has decided to commit his crime, he has already disregarded other forms of punishment besides the death penalty, such as lengthy imprisonment. ... Also, states that do not have a death penalty experience lower number of murders each year than that of the states who do. ... (Death Penalty Information Ce...
After the Supreme Court made this ruling, states reviewed their death penalty laws. ... The death penalty contradicts the whole idea of human rights. ... Supporters of the death penalty believe that the death penalty helps keep the crime and murder rate down, but that is not so. States with death penalty laws do not have lower crime or rates than states that with death penalty laws. ... If the death penalty is not "cruel and unusual punishment" then what is? ...
-Contact Death Penalty Focus. ... -Start a Death Penalty Focus chapter at your school. ... -Attend national conferences on death penalty organizing. ... What Teachers Can Do -Use the Death Penalty Information Center's curriculum for educators in your classroom! ... Death Penalty Focus can help you find many excellent speakers. ...
One way people are being deprived of their rights is the use of the death penalty. The death penalty is often used to kill people who have committed murder. ... The death penalty is not a surefire way to punish criminals. ... Jury members may avoid the death penalty for this very reason. ... If the death penalty does not deter crime, why should there have a death penalty? ...
DEATH PENALTY The death penalty has existed as long as humans have existed. ... There have been many comparisons of crime rates of death penalty states to non-death penalty states. ... Michigan, Ohio and Illinois all have the death penalty. ... In 1994, the average murder rate in death penalty states of a population of 100,00 was 8.0, for a non-death penalty state, 4.4. ... In 1976 Canada got rid of the death penalty. ...
The death penalty protects society because if the murderers are executed, they are no longer on the streets (The Death Penalty). ... Studies show that by increasing the death penalty by one percent, it would prevent one hundred and five murders (The Death Penalty). ... Why the society defends the death penalty. ... Arguments of those who oppose the death penalty. ... Concluding thoughts of reinstating the death penalty....
