...over Lethal Injection On January 16, 2014 an Ohio death row inmate was put to death by lethal injection with an untested drug. After being injected with the drug, the inmate quickly began to choke and gasp for air. This process which appeared to be painful and hard to watch continued for 25 minutes until Dennis McGuire was pronounced dead (Goode). This execution has renewed an old debate on whether this form of capital punishment violates the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution by way of cruel and unusual punishment. Although many people argue that this technique is the most humane form of execution, it has now reached uncharted territories with the use of untested drugs. In this paper I will argue that lethal injections should be brought to a close because of the ineffectiveness of the new and the old drugs being used, for the fact that executioners are inexperienced, and for the reason that untested drugs are used on inmates. Since lethal injection was first introduced to the United States back in 1977, there have been a total of 1176 inmates executed using this method (Death Penalty Statistics). The most common lethal injection procedure, developed by Dr. Jay Chapman, was at best a combination of three drugs: sodium thiopental (a barbiturate that also has anesthesia), pancuronium bromide (relaxes then paralyses the muscles in the body) and potassium chloride (this drug speeds up the heart until it stops) (Clancy, O’Brien 278). Many advocates believe that lethal injection...
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...LETHAL INJECTION IN CALIFORNIA. Lethal injection involves injecting a person with drugs for the purpose of killing that person. This procedure is also known as capital punishment. It kills the person by putting the person to sleep, followed by stopping of breath then eventually the heart. Usually a barbiturate, paralytic and potassium solution is used. Lethal injection was declared unlawful in California by Jones V Chapel a federal judge in on July 16, 2014. A former NFL star had his family murdered in 1984 by gang members one night in Los Angele's. Kermit Alexander was full of rage that he prowled the streets to find the killers and exact revenge. The only reason he stopped was because the then mayor Tom Bradley made him promise that he would...
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...Death Penalty and Lethal Injection CRJ 412 Research Methods in Criminal Justice The death penalty has been in practice prior to America being discovered. Executing of an offender has been a popular method of punishment in past history for numerous different crimes. Some of the crimes that could result in execution were stealing, treason, rape and murder. Lynching, hanging, burning, firing squad, lethal gas, electrocution and lethal injection are just some methods of execution that have been used to carry out a death sentence. Some of the past executions have been held in the public so everyone could watch. There have been cases brought against the methods of execution therefore violating the Eighth Amendment, of cruel or unusual inflicted punishment. Lethal injection as a method of execution can be viewed as cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. There has been and always will be debates about the death penalty if it is fair or cruel and unusual punishment. Also, there are always going to be debates and Supreme Court Cases held to see if the methods of execution of the death penalty violate human beings’ rights. One early case, State of Louisiana ex rel. Francis v Resweber (1947) ruled that it was not cruel or unusual punishment to send a man to be electrocuted after he had already been placed in the chair, but had not died due to mechanical fault (Harrison & Melville, 2007). The Supreme...
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...Christina M. Owens Writing Assignment October 29th, 2012 Capital Punishment by Lethal Injection Capital Punishment is defined as the execution of a convicted criminal by the State as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. Capital Punishment is given when the crime is considered so vast and so horrible that it is over the realm of being forgiven or pardoned. Capital punishment in the United States is officially certified by 38 of the 50 states; the minimum age at time of crime to be subject to the death penalty is 18. Throughout history, statistics have proven that Capital Punishment furthermore known as the death penalty to be a working prevention of major crimes. When the death penalty is carried out, it illustrates to the society that committing a capital crime has deadly consequences, and it seems reasonable that a person is less probable to commit a given act if it results in the persons enduring instant and definite punishment. However, there has been some controversy on rather or not Capital punishment should be used as a way of penalizing criminals. Over the past two decades, there has been a colossal increase in violent crimes. As most Americans come to an understanding, death is the only fitting sentence for these crimes. Even in ancient times' capital punishment was not something that came as a surprise. Even the Bible states, "Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Bible)...
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...statement that Capital Punishment should very well be abolished. Throughout its lifetime, Capital punishment has seemed, in many cases to be the most sane and respectable thing to condemn on a person, deserving of such direct discipline. For example, a case held in 1977 that had eventually resulted in the accused's death, was the case of Coker v. Georgia, an alleged murderer, and rapist. In 1974, he was given several sentences on murder, rape and assault charges. He then 3 years into his sentence, escaped Georgia prison, and after breaking into the home of Allen and Elnita Carver, raped Elnita, and stole the family’s vehicle. Cover was convicted of rape, armed robbery, and other offenses, and in June of 1977, was put to death via lethal injection. It was spread over a total span of 4 months and 1 day, and it became the backbone of many cases, like the 2007 Kennedy v. Louisiana case. This case, like the majority of others similar to it, is one people would have a hard time disagreeing with, and most definitely puts...
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...Running Head: Capital Punishment Capital Punishment: Is It Cruel and Unusual Punishment? Jennifer N. Orrill Sullivan University CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: IS IT CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT? Capital punishment is a very controversial issue in America. Americans who are against capital punishment might say that innocent people get sentenced to death, because some people are wrongly convicted of murder. Some Americans would also argue that some forms of capital punishment such as the electric chair, firing squad, gas chamber, and hanging are cruel and unusual punishment. Other Americans who agree with capital punishment would argue that murderers have relinquished their rights by their actions and should be punished accordingly. To reduce the number of murders each year in the United States, this country’s judicial system needs to use the death penalty more often. More frequent death penalty sentences would reduce murders in America. In Detroit, hurt by the auto industry's woes, there were 163 murders reported in the first six months of 2009 (Berman, 2009). This country needs to lead by example. If a person is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt guilty of murder then they should automatically get a death sentence. Offenders should not get weaker sentencing for testifying against another, or for petty technicalities. If firm death penalty consequences were known before the criminal committed the murder, they may think twice about committing the crime. In recent years, DNA profiling...
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...first-degree, premeditated murder. There are different forms of execution that are used today: Lethal Injection, gas chamber, electrocution, hanging, and the firing squad. Today, (USDOJ, 2010) Hanging is the oldest method of execution in the United States, and was replaced by electrocution as the most common method. There have been only 3 executions by hanging since 1977: Westley Dodd (WA, 1993), Charles Campbell (WA, 1994), and Billy Bailey (DE, 1998). “The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also part of the Fourteenth Century B.C.'s Hittite Code; in the Seventh Century B.C.'s Draconian Code of Athens, which made death the only punishment for all crimes; and in the Fifth Century B.C.'s Roman law of the Twelve Tablets. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement.” http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/part-i-history-death-penalty During the 1960’s, there was challenges regarding whether or not the death penalty was legal. Many believed that under the Eighth Amendment, this was considered to be “cruel and unusual punishment. Oklahoma became the first state to authorize lethal injection - currently the most common form of execution. Texas believed that lethal...
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...Making sure someone is 100% guilty can take time and I see the point where people who oppose the death penalty because it can cost more money, but everything cant always be about money. It is about what they did and the consequences that they have to face. I think if you get sentenced to the death penalty then you deserve the electrocution chair, gas chamber, hanging, or the firing squad. You shouldn’t get away with the lethal injection. The lethal injection would be an easy punishment but if DO YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY you do something like the electrocution chair it would be more painful. 2. In conclusion I believe in the death penalty because in all it would be cheaper, the criminals would get what they deserve, and there wouldn’t be as many murders in the world. I think that the reasons that people oppose the death penalty are ignorant because in the Bible it states that there is a time to kill. People who think that it cost more money to kill someone than to keep them alive don’t realize that either way they have to proven guilty or innocent and it doesn’t cost anything to hang somebody but it can cost a lot to feed them and provide for...
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...movies and also some current events that have recently got the whole of Britain talking about capital punishment and why it should be brought back. “Into the abyss” by Werner Herzog, this documentary gave an insight into the lives affected by someone being on death row. And “Pierrepoint” by Adrian Shergold, which is a movie about an executioners perspective. I will also introduce evidence from newspapers and reports, which have been researched over the internet. There are various methods of execution used around the world in civilized nations, but quite often we don’t know the methods involved in executing the act. I hope to shed some light on the background of an execution. Lethal Injection – The prisoner is prepared a short time before the execution by lethal injection. The preparation can include the prisoner having a last meal, shower and change of clothes. Once the prisoner is taken to the execution chamber two IV tubes are inserted into the prisoners arm. At first there is a saline solution fed through the tubes. These tubes run through the wall into the anteroom where the execution will take place. With the tubes in place the curtains are drawn back so that witnesses may watch the execution and the prisoner is allowed to make his last statement...
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...for the lethal injection in hopes that it will prevent anymore “botched executions”. They say even with these new procedures, things can still go wrong; problems can still arise. The execution of Angel Diaz is what led to the chamber’s closing. They say it took him twice the normal amount of time to die and he appeared to suffer a great deal because it turns out that no medically trained professional had been there to administer the drugs. Should this one epic fail determine whether or not capital punishment continues to be used in this country? I am going to have to say no. There is a reason why we chose to have the death penalty in the first place, because some crimes that are committed are just too horrible and deserve severe punishment. It is true that what happened to Angel Diaz was a horrible mistake but I was not aware that when attempting to kill someone for crimes committed that we were suppose to make them as comfortable as possible? That whole thing seems a bit hypocritical to me. This may seem harsh but if someone is sentenced to death then obviously the things they have done to land them there make them deserving of their punishment but not pity. One big reason that the death penalty is not supported is that it is seen as barbaric. People say that it violates the “cruel and unusual” clause in the Bill of Rights. The 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution prevents the use of any “cruel or unusual” punishment but I wouldn’t say today method of lethal injection...
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...Issues In The Death Penalty More than an estimated 18,800 Americans have been executed since the creation of the death penalty dating back to colonial times (University of Alabama). The decision of death for the punishment of a murder in the United States has declined in recent years. In 2009, the number of new death sentences was 112, the lowest level in 30 years. Unfortunately, the U.S. fails to recognize capital punishment as a profound human rights violation and as a frightening abuse of government power. According Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is punishment by death for a crime (Capital Punishment). There are both pros and cons to capital punishment, but many people are against it. The innocent people put on death row, the cost, the lack of proven deterrence and discrimination within the system are all reasons capital punishment should be a big concern. The death penalty can be and has been inflicted upon innocent people. Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence(DPIC). If 130 people have been proven innocent, there are bound to be more people falsely convicted. In Florida, James Bain spent 35 years behind bars before he was finally freed for a crime he did not commit. How was he freed? He was freed through the help of DNA evidence that was unavailable in 1974 when he was convicted of the crime. Now, Bain is entitled to 1.75 million dollars because Florida has a law that automatically...
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...the British medical journal The Lancet, a team of medical researchers found serious flaws in how lethal injections were being administered, causing extreme suffering to the prisoners being executed. The report found “that in 43 of the 49 executed prisoners studied the anesthetic administered during lethal injection was lower than required for surgery. On December 13, 2006, Angel Nieves Diaz was the victim of a botched execution so terrible that it led Florida’s Republican Governor and death penalty enthusiast Jeb Bush to issue an executive order halting executions in the state. On December 13, 2006, Angel Nieves Diaz was the victim of a botched execution so terrible that it led Florida’s Republican Governor and death penalty enthusiast Jeb Bush to issue an executive order halting executions in the state. Technicians wrongly inserted the needles carrying the poisons that were to kill Diaz. The caustic chemicals poured into his soft tissues instead of his veins, as intended. This left Diaz struggling and mouthing words in pain for over 34 minutes, when a second set of needles were inserted. The county medical examiner found 12-inch chemical burns inside both of his arms after the execution Sounds like a pasted sleeping like a baby. This is not the only time this has happen. In 2007, executions are on hold in over a dozen states and botched executions have put the lethal injection...
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...Mixing Law and Medicine: A Lethal Combination Abstract “First do no harm” is the foundations that medical practices are based on, but there times in which the lines are blurred and physicians must question their ethical, legal and moral participation in procedures. Physician participation in executions of convicted criminals is explored in this paper. The history of the death penalty, including the early involvement of physicians is surveyed. The pros and cons as well of the legal and ethical grounds for medical professionals are weighed ultimately present the necessity for qualified medical professionals to carry out state sanctioned executions regardless of one’s position on the death penalty. Outline I. Introduction a. Thesis- Even though physician’s participation in the implementation of court ordered executions are in direct violation of the fundamental directive of the Physician’s Code of Ethics, “First, do no harm…,” it is a necessary product of the practice to ensure a “good death” for the convicted. II. History and Development of Capital Punishment a. Primitive Forms b. Physician Involvement in capital punishment progression c. Federal Government Intervention d. Current participation state statistics III. Medical Code of Ethics History IV. American Medical Association (AMA) a. AMA stance b. Acceptable actions c. Unacceptable actions V. The Physician’s Argument a. Same motivations- different point of view VI. Other Ethical...
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...of a human. Advocates of the death penalty believe that it is a deterrent, but evidence has proven otherwise; they also do not recognize the many faults tied up in the system. The death penalty should be abolished because the prisoners are treated inhumanely not only from living on death row, but from receiving a bad batch of lethal injection drugs. Many people do not realize the immense cost required for the execution of a single inmate and the discrimination {against African Americans} that lives in the courtroom. After being sentenced to execution, prisoners are sent to death row; a section located in in a prison that deprives them of their sanity. Death row is like solitary confinement; the inmates are isolated and confined to a cell the size of a bathroom for at least 22 hours a day. The prisoners are constantly subjected to atrocious conditions to the point that they are getting their human rights taken from them. The prisoners...
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...Persuasive Essay 10 - 12: Euthanasia: Should humans be given the right to play God? Should humans be allowed to play the role of God? Legalising euthanasia would do just that. Euthanasia is where individuals who are terminally ill elect to end their own life. This has and will continue to be a contentious issue with the right people’s religious beliefs conflicting with those of the rights individual. The power to play with people's lives should not be handed out under a legal and/or medical disguise. Thus euthanasia should not be legalised. The term 'Euthanasia' comes from the Greek word for 'easy death'. It is the one of the most public policy issues being debated about today. Also called 'mercy killing', euthanasia is the act of purposely making or helping someone die, instead of allowing nature to take its course. Basically for advocates of the practice of euthanasia it means killing in the name of compassion. However this view is contradictory to religious beliefs, who are these medical people to meddle in the God’s plans. Euthanasia promotes abuse and gives doctors the right to murder all in the name of ‘compassion’. All proponents in the euthanasia debate will agree that no matter the safe guards put in place around this practice; this process is susceptible to abuse. As Dr. J Forest Witten warned that euthanasia would give a small group of doctors "the power of life and death over individuals who have committed no crime except that of becoming ill or being born, and might...
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