Death Penalty

Question 1

When was the first known death sentence?

Answer 1

1608; Jamestown

Question 2

After WWI, how many states reinstated the death penalty?

Answer 2

5

Question 3

Which gas was introduced as a more humane method of execution?

Answer 3

Cyanide

Question 4

Which decade saw more death penalties than ever before?

Answer 4

1930’s

Question 5

What did the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights do?

Answer 5

UN pushed to limit the scope of death penalty to protect juveniles, pregnant women, elderly

Question 6

Which case was the death penalty declared unconstitutional?

Answer 6

Furman v. Georgia 1972

Question 7

What did Gregg v. Georgia require?

Answer 7

Bifurcated trials (guilt trial and death sentence trial); automatic appellate review; proportionality review

Question 8

How many states currently have the death penalty?

Answer 8

30

Question 9

What form of execution is required of all states?

Answer 9

Lethal injection

Question 10

What is the leading cause of wrongful convictions?

Answer 10

Eyewitness misidentification

Question 11

What is the leading cause for death-row exonerations?

Answer 11

Official misconduct