Capital Punishment Flashcards
Define reform
The idea that punishments should try to change criminals so that they will not commit crimes again.
Define deterrence
The idea that punishments will be of such a nature that they will put people off (deter) committing crimes.
Define retribution
The idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong.
Define rehabilitation
Readapt to normal life and thinking in society.
Define justice
Due allocation of reward and punishment, the maintenance of what is right.
Define vindication
Offenders must be punished to show that the law must be respected and is right.
Define capital punishment
The practise of executing someone because they have committed a serious crime.
Name 3 places that capital punishment exists in
States within America
China
Countries in the middle east such as Pakistan
5 arguments for capital punishment?
Deterrence - it will stop other criminals from committing a similar crime
Retribution - some evil acts need ultimate payback lie, capital punishment
Protection - If evil people are removed then society is protected
Arguments from religions - Some people argue that the Bible is in favour of capital punishment. The Old Testament law gives examples of crimes were the perpetrator should be put to death
Financial - Some people argue it would be cheaper to put a criminal to death than for them to be kept in prison for the duration of their lives.
7 arguments against capital punishment?
1- doesn’t stop serious crimes, in Texas where the death penalty is legalised there are more murders than many states which don’t have the death penalty.
2- some people believe it lowers the tone of their community
3- Capital Punishment is an easy way out for criminals when they should be made suffer in jail for the rest of their lives.
4- even criminals have a right to life, and they should not be sentenced to death.
5- It is possible that the wrong person might have been convicted. If the death penalty is legalised this would lead to the possibility of putting an innocent person to death. For example, in America many people who were sentenced to death before the development of DNA evidence have since been released.
6- Many Christians believe that grace and forgiveness should be given to people even for terrible crimes. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, ‘you have heard an eye for an eye, but I teach you to turn the other cheek’.
7- there are better punishments which can help the criminal make up for the crimes, like community service.
What are the top 5 countries for executions?
China Iran Saudi Arabia Vietnam Iraq
What does the bible say about capital punishment?
- The Old Testament lists a range of offences that were punished by the death penalty. (People look at these verses and agree w/ capital punishment)
- “Humans are made in God’s image so if you murder them then your life will be taken”
- Jews lived by the principle‘eye for an eye’ and a ‘tooth for a tooth’. They would have expected that what they did to someone else would be done back to them.
- In the New Testament, Jesus teaches his people to follow a new way. “Now I tell you, do not take revenge on someone who has wronged you”
- you should be careful not to judge others because ‘all have fallen short of God’s standard’
- When a woman was getting stoned, Jesus told the crowd that the person without sin should throw the first stone.
- people can be forgiven even if they have committed terrible crimes. We are all guilty of putting Jesus to death through our sin, but God offers us forgiveness.
- ‘you should obey your state authority’. Therefore, some Christians think that you should respect the decision of your Government
Define forgiveness
A process where the victim makes a conscious decision not to feel resentment towards someone who has wronged them
Define repentance
A process where someone has done something wrong, but they are sorry for this and want to change their lives for the better.
What does the bible teach us about forgiveness?
- Christians believe that if you are a Christian then you should forgive others for the wrong things they have done.
- They believe that Jesus forgives Christians for all the wrong they have done; therefore, Christians should forgive others.
- Jesus gave the example of the Lord’s prayer that demonstrates God forgives people who forgive others. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who trespass against us.”
