Capital Punishment Flashcards
What is Capital Punishment?
Capital Punishment or the “death penalty” is the practice of executing someone as a punishment for a very serious crime, such as murder.
What are the methods of the Death Penalty ?
- Beheading
- Electrocution
- Hanging
- Lethal injection
- Shooting in the back of the head and by the firing squad.
Name 3 countries where the Death Penalty is legal?
China
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Sudan
Iraq
USA
Iran
What are the arguments FOR Capital Punishment?
Capital Punishment is a deterrent to other criminals.
It protects society from evil people.
It is ultimate payback for someone who has committed a heinous crime.
In many cases a life sentence is misleading term. Murders can be freed at 16 years.
It brings justice and closure to the family of the victim.
Capital Punishment is the cheapest and most effective way of dealing with a serious criminal.
It is the only effective method of stopping terrorists from reoffending.
What the arguments AGAINST Capital Punishment ?
The threat of being caught is only a deterrent in a planned crime. However many crimes aren’t premeditated, so Capital Punishment is not a deterrent.
What if the wrong person is condemned?
It is uncivilised and devalues human life. No one Deserves to be sentenced to death, regardless of the crime. Life in prison would be better.
Capital Punishment removes he chance of rehabilitation for criminals.
It is revenge, not justice. Putting the guilty to death does not lessen the grief people have to endure.
Capital Punishment is not cheap. Death sentences may be three or four time more expensive than those of life sentences.
Capital Punishment makes convicted terrorists into martyrs.
Give an example of a human rights movement?
Amnesty international
How does the Old Testament support Capital Punishment?
“Human beings were made like God, so whoever murders one of them will be killed by someone else.”
Genesis 9:6
The Old Testament permits revenge
“But if the woman herself is injured, the punishment shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
Exodus 21:23-24
How does the New Testament disagree with Capital Punishment?
When Pilate has to decide whether or not to crucify Jesus, Jesus tells him that the power to make this decision has been given to him by God.
“You have authority over me only me only because it was given to you by God.”
Jesus taught that Christian’s should not look for revenge:
“You have heard that it was said, yes for an eye, and tooth for a tooth. But now I tell: don’t take revenge on someone who wrongs you.” Matthew 5:38-42
What are the 6 aims of punishment?
Deterrence
Protection
Reform/Rehabilitation
Vindication
Retribution/Revenge
Repayment/Reparation
Expand on “deterrence” as one aim of punishment ?
To “deter” someone from doing something means to put them off doing it. The possibility of a fine or a prison sentence may be enough to deter someone from breaking the law.
Expand on “Protection” as an aim of Punishment?
To protect society, dangerous criminals often lose their freedom so other people are not threatened by them. Some criminals have psychological problems and may never be released into society.
Expand on “reform/rehab” as an aim for Punishment?
It means to improve or change the nature of a criminal so they learn to be a law-abiding member of society. Most people who go to prison get out after a period of time and need to learn how to live in society. Prisons have programmes about rehabilitation and other support.
Expand on “vindication” as an aim for Punishment?
This is proof that something is right and justified. Most people believe in laws and want to see them upheld. Punishing those who break the law is one way of showing society’s determination to uphold justice.
Expand on “retribution/revenge” as an aim for punishment?
Some people believe that society and the victims of a crime deserve to take revenge on the criminal by imposing a punishment.
Expand on “Repayment/Reparation” as an aim for Punishment?
If a person is caught committing a crime, they are usually arrested, taken to court and give a type of punishment that the court decides fits the crime.
