Capital Punishment Must Be Put To Death Essay -- Capital Punishment, De

Capital punishment, better known as the death penalty, has been around for centuries. Like all elements of modern society, the death penalty has evolved over the course of many years. Initially, the death penalty was administered by a royal court or monarchy through brutal stoning. Since then, the guillotine, noose, electric chair, and [currently] lethal injection have all been tools created to administer the death penalty here in the United States. Before the act of actually ending the criminal’s life is performed he or she waits on death row during the course of any court proceedings. In America, death row is the term given to the section of a prison reserved for inmates awaiting trial concerning the death penalty. The term â€Å"death row† is figurative. Due to extensive court proceedings, individuals on death row may await trial or sentencing for months or years. There is no way to determine how long an inmate will stay on death row. However, research has shown that extensive periods of time on death row lowers inmates’ mental capacities and capabilities, and deteriorates their physical health at alarming rates. Inmates on death row have no one to comfort them, to care for them, or to visit them. Jack Alderman is the longest serving death row American prisoner with over thirty-three years prior to his execution. In the state of Georgia on September 16, 2008 Alderman was executed by lethal injection. He was convicted for his part in the murder of his wife Barbara Alderman. Although the â€Å"U.S. Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional† (Swarns 1 of 3), the issue has gone back to trial and reinstated. The death penalty is legal rhetoric that is based on heightened emotions and revenge. The â€Å"justice† system that determin... ... Works Cited Hawkins, Steven W. â€Å"It is Immoral and Ineffective†. World and I Sept. 2002: 247 General OneFile. Web. 1 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Death Penalty is violation of human Rights: L:aws are not Meant to Punish Anyone but to Bring Change.† DNA (Daily News and Analysis). 11 Oct. 2009. General OneFile. Web. 1 Nov. 2011 Lafevere, Patricia. â€Å"Group Urges Legislator to Scrap Death Penalty. (Nation)†. National Catholic Reporter 28 Dec. 2001 General OneFile. Web. 1 Nov. 2011. Swarns, Christina. â€Å"The Uneven Scale of Capital Justice: How Race and Class Affect Who Ends Up on Death Row†. The American Prospect. 15.7 (2004): A14+. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 1 Nov. 2011 â€Å"Top 10 Pros and Cons: Should the Death Penalty be Allowed?† deathpenalty.procon.org N.p. n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2011