Capital Punishment - Justice

Question 1

Method - hanging

Answer 1

!rope noose placed around neck, trapdoor opens and criminal falls quickly breaking neck leading to death
+most cases death is quick and relatively painless
- occasionally neck doesn’t break, slower and more painful death by strangulation

Question 2

Method - electrocution

Answer 2

!criminal strapped to special chair, massive electrical current passes through the body shock kills
+reliable form of execution with rapid death
-traumatic and painful as death isn’t always instantaneous

Question 3

Method - lethal injection

Answer 3

!criminal strapped to bed. Tranquilliser given, deadly chemical injected leading to death
+ possibly most humane form of execution in the eyes of many people as painless/reliable with doctor present to deal with any problems
- requires doctor (trained to save lives and not assist in death)

Question 4

Method - Beheading

Answer 4

!sword or axe used to cut criminals neck
+quick death for criminal when an efficient blow administrated depends on ability of executioner
- death may be prolonger and painful by mis-timed blows

Question 5

Arguments for capital punishment

Answer 5

• deterrent
  -those executed cannot commit further crimes
  -makes people feel safer
  -teaches bad things happen to those who deserve it ( reinforces contrary belief of good things happen to those that are good)

Question 6

Arguments against capital punishment

Answer 6

• innocent people may be killed
  -death penalty doesn’t seem to deter people from committing serious crimes
  -capital punishment can not make the world a better place ( US statistics)
  -capital punishment can be expensive - money could be used for other reasons

Question 7

US murder rate statistics

Answer 7

The murder rate in states where the death penalty has been abolished was 4.01 percent per 100,000 people. In states where the death penalty is used the figure was 5.0%

Question 8

Capital punishment religious

Answer 8

Christian - mixed views OT for, NT against. Many believe it doesn’t put people off committing crimes

Buddhists - not against punishment in principle forms of fines, community service and prison as life as there is a chance of reform and the individual and society are protected against

Question 9

Capital punishment non religious

Answer 9

• humanist - British humanist association are against capital punishment as it doesn’t work for deterrence and errors means the state becomes responsible for killing innocent citizens
• utilitarians for as it may lead to the future prevention of many serious crimes happened +safety