Abolish The Death Penalty Essays (1439 words) - Capital Punishment

Abolish The Death Penalty Death Penalty The death penalty is a major issue that brings up a lot of arguments in our society. The most important question concerning the death penalty is whether it should be abolished or not. I think that the death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. Race, social and economic status, location of crime, and pure chance may be deciding factors in death sentencing. In addition, prosecutors seek the death penalty far more frequently when the victim of the homicide is white than when the victim is black. The actual cost of an execution is substantially higher than the cost of imprisoning a person for life. Death was formerly the penalty for all felonies in English law. In practice the death penalty was never applied as widely as the law provided, as a variety of procedures were adopted to decrease the harshness of the law. Many offenders who committed capital crimes were pardoned, usually on condition that they agreed to be transported to what were then the American colonies; others were allowed what was known as benefit of clergy(Ploski 2). The beginning of benefit of clergy was that offenders who were established priests were subject to trial by the church courts rather than the non-religious courts. If the offender convicted of a felony could show that he had be ordained, he was allowed to go free, subject to the possibility of being punished by the ecclesiastical courts. In medieval times the only proof of ordination was literacy, and it became the custom by the 17th century to allow anyone convicted of a felony to escape the death sentence by giving proof of literacy(Ploski 4). In 18th-century England concern with rising crime led to many statutes either extending the number of offenses punishable with death or doing away with benefit of clergy for existing felonies, which as a result became capital(Black 2). By the end of the 18th-century English criminal law contained about 200 capital offenses. Many offenders who were convicted of capital crimes escaped the gallows as a result of reprieves and royal pardons, usually on condition of transportation, and many others who were charged with capital crimes were acquitted against the evidence, because the jury was unwilling to see the death penalty applied in a minor case(Black 5). The unpredictable application of the death penalty in the late 18th and early 19th centuries led to demands for humanitarian reform. Between 1820 and 1840 most capital statutes were repealed, and by 1861 only murder, treason, arson in a royal dockyard, and piracy with violence retained the death penalty. Until the mid-19th century executions in England were public, and throughout the 18th century great crowds attended the regular executions in London and other cities(Ploski 6). Often an execution was followed by scenes of violence and disorder in the crowd. Public opinion eventually turned against the idea of executions as spectacles, and after 1868 executions were carried out in private prisons( Black 7). The earliest recorded execution committed in the U.S. under state authority was in 1864. During 1864-1890, 57 persons were executed under state authority( Kasper 8). Since the 1960's, 100% of the executions performed under civil authority have been state executions(Mello 7). The power for local governments to perform executions, however, greatly dropped during this century. Perhaps the transfer of death penalty power from local to state governments was partially due to increased technology. Improved communications made it easier to centralize the decision-making about executions with state governments(Black 9). The legal killing of a criminal by carrying out a death sentence is a type of punishment called ?capital punishment?. By taking away a criminal's life, capital punishment is the ultimate penalty. From 1930 to 1933, 4,085 prisoners were executed in the United States(Haines 3). In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that laws regulating the death penalty in various states were defined as being unconstitutional in the form in which that existed at the time. This ruling prevented any executions from taking place period. In 1976, however, the Supreme Court upheld revised state laws regarding capital punishment, which made it legally possible again for states to carry out death sentences. From 1977 to 1993, 226 prisoners were executed(Kasper 2). Capital Punishment offenses differ between the states, and not all states have a death penalty. Most states with the death penalty choose first-degree murder as

Free Essays on Mayan And Brazilian Indians

After viewing Victor Montejo’s presentation on the formation of Maya ethnicity and the creation of Maya identity in Guatemala it has become apparently clear that not only do the Brazilian Indians have hardship, but indigenous people from other locations as well. His people, the Mayans, have gone through and will continue to face many similar problems that the indigenous groups of Brazil have faced. One of the major reasons that all of these different indigenous groups have such a hard time prospering is a lack of unity, not too mention a number of other things. In Guatemala, the Mayans make up sixty-five percent of the population, which is a very significant amount. They have strength in numbers, but where they fall short is lacking Mayan unity. According to Montejo, there are some 21 different linguistic groups among the Mayans. The numerous amounts of languages disturb the â€Å"togetherness† of all of the Mayan population. If the Mayan people had less of a hard time coming together, they would have a much easier time standing as one. Just as the Mayans have many different languages and groups, all of the indigenous peoples of Brazil are vastly different. The Nambiquara, Kayopo and Yanomoami are just three of many different tribes among the Brazilian Indians. They are not only different tribes, but they are totally different from one another in their cultures too. Each one of the different tribes in Brazil is like a small country in itself. They have their own separate language and culture that is commonly vastly different from the other indigenous tribes around. The indigenous peoples of these tribes are at an even greater disadvantage than the Mayans of Guatemala in this respect, plus in Brazil, the indigenous peoples only make up a small percentage of the total population which hurts them tremendously. At least for the Mayans sake they have a majority of the population, but the Indians in Brazil only make up a smal... Free Essays on Mayan And Brazilian Indians Free Essays on Mayan And Brazilian Indians After viewing Victor Montejo’s presentation on the formation of Maya ethnicity and the creation of Maya identity in Guatemala it has become apparently clear that not only do the Brazilian Indians have hardship, but indigenous people from other locations as well. His people, the Mayans, have gone through and will continue to face many similar problems that the indigenous groups of Brazil have faced. One of the major reasons that all of these different indigenous groups have such a hard time prospering is a lack of unity, not too mention a number of other things. In Guatemala, the Mayans make up sixty-five percent of the population, which is a very significant amount. They have strength in numbers, but where they fall short is lacking Mayan unity. According to Montejo, there are some 21 different linguistic groups among the Mayans. The numerous amounts of languages disturb the â€Å"togetherness† of all of the Mayan population. If the Mayan people had less of a hard time coming together, they would have a much easier time standing as one. Just as the Mayans have many different languages and groups, all of the indigenous peoples of Brazil are vastly different. The Nambiquara, Kayopo and Yanomoami are just three of many different tribes among the Brazilian Indians. They are not only different tribes, but they are totally different from one another in their cultures too. Each one of the different tribes in Brazil is like a small country in itself. They have their own separate language and culture that is commonly vastly different from the other indigenous tribes around. The indigenous peoples of these tribes are at an even greater disadvantage than the Mayans of Guatemala in this respect, plus in Brazil, the indigenous peoples only make up a small percentage of the total population which hurts them tremendously. At least for the Mayans sake they have a majority of the population, but the Indians in Brazil only make up a smal...

Nationals infrastructure accident Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Nationals infrastructure accident - Essay Example This paper aims at highlighting the various actions that are necessary for the U.S. government to consider in order to mitigate occurrence of similar events in future. For those who watched the media news about the New Orleans landfall made by the Hurricane Katrina in the year 2005, highly remember how water flooded over the numerous levees, which were built to prevent an occurrence of such accidents as well as protecting the city. Several factors contributed to the failure of New Orleans levees ranging from poor engineering designs to the storm’s sheer ferocity (Reilly, 2009). All these factors were into consideration during the reconstruction of the levee after the wake of the Hurricane Katrina. The other low-lying cities in America learned a lot from the failure of New Orleans levees and considered such factors when making evaluation on their preparedness prevent occurrence of such storms. New Orleans is an American city that is located in a unique site, because it is completely below the sea level. Residents of this city cope with the surroundings of large water bodies such as Lake Pontchartrain, Mississippi River, and Mexico Gulf with array of levees designed to prevent flooding water from entering the city (United States, 2006). When conditions caused the breakage of the constructed levees during the Hurricane Katrina in the year 2005, the effect was highly harming and flooding water pooled out covering the entire city. With the initial 24 hours after the storm started, 28 levees had already failed. The total number of failed or broken levees increased to over 55 within the first week. The U.S. USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers), the core constructor of the levees issued out a public explanation on why the levees failed after several days. According USACE’s account, the design of the levees was only to protect the city from Category Three storms, and the Hurricane

Terri Schiavo Case Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Terri Schiavo Case - Research Paper Example The issue of euthanasia/assisted suicide has been particularly controversial of late, particularly due to the sensational trials of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, an unrepentant medical practitioner who openly engaged in euthanasia among terminally ill patients and a recent case in the United Kingdom in which Mr. Alan Reyes of East London publicly helped his partner end his life and was subsequently arrested for the subsequent death of his partner of twenty eight years. Dr. Kevorkian, was incarcerated for eight years for helping people to die, and is reported to have participated in at least 130 assisted suicides. Significantly as well, the high profile legal cases surrounding Terri Schiavo brought questions surrounding euthanasia to the forefront of the public’s consciousness. This essay will explore the complex issues surrounding the right to die in America today and demonstrate that the right to die is an inherent right for individuals1. Seeking to understand the complexities surrounding euthanasia as the debate continues, this essay will address both sides of the coin and explore euthanasia from a holistic perspective. Seeking to explore the ethical and legal aspects of euthanasia, this essay will provide a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the major issues surrounding euthanasia in America today. We will discuss and debate the arguments for as well as the arguments against euthanasia and conclude with a synopsis of the research undertaken. Significantly, this essay will emphatically argue that the right to die is an inherent right which can be invoked in grave situation. Importantly, court testimony during Schiavo 1 made it clear that Terri Schiavo did not want to continue to live if her chances of recovery were miniscule.2 Accordingly, her husband helped her fulfill her wish to end her life while she was incapacitated. This

Outcome Essay Example for Free

Outcome Essay Identify non medical incidents and emergencies that may occur in the work setting Non medical incidents and emergencies that may occur in work settings could be a fire, a flood or a lack of electricity/water/gas/heat. 3. 2. A. Outline the actions to take in response to in the following situations; fire If there was a fire in your nursery setting, you would have to do the simple fire drill. If you discover the fire, you would have to raise the alarm. Once you have raised the alarm, you would have to immediately evacuate the building using the nearest safe exit, someone would have to pick up the register on the way out. Staff would lead the children out in a nice straight line and you would go to the designated assembly point. The manager would then check all areas in the building (toilets, staff room, baby changing area, sleep room, play areas) etc to check there is no other children in the building. You would close all doors behind you and dial 999 and ask for the fire service. Whilst waiting for the fire service you would check the register to make sure you have all your children. If the fire was only small, you could attempt to put it out. If it was too dangerous to put out, you would leave it and evacuate ASAP with all the children in a single fire. 3. 2. B. Outline the actions to take in response to in the following situations; security incident If there was a security incident in your nursery there is a procedure you have to take. 3. 2. C. Outline the actions to take in response to in the following situations; emergency incident

Essay on Frail Ophelia of Hamlet -- Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

Frail Ophelia of Hamlet      Ã‚   Throughout Hamlet, Shakespeare makes it evident that Ophelia is very unstable. She continuously changes her mind about the way she feels. Laertes and Polonius command her to do things that she does not agree with, but she does them with no argument. Afraid to stand up for herself, she stands back and watches everyone else control her life. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia is treated as a marionette with her strings in the hands of the people around her; however, Kenneth Branagh portrays her as independent and innocent, ignoring Shakespeare's representation of her as feeble-minded through complete male dominance in her thoughts and actions, her indecisiveness, and digression into madness.    It is obvious throughout the play Ophelia is ordered around by Laertes and Polonius, and obeys them without a moment's thought. They act like she has no mind of her own, but she listens and does as they wish, so it seems she cannot think for herself. Polonius and Laertes treat her as though she is worthless. Laertes urges Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet ...

Health and Safety in Social Care Essay

The mission : The prevention of death, injury and ill health to those at work and those affected by work activities. †¢ Shocking failures – it’s why we need to obey the law We know it’s an extremely important aspect of care. We know there’s been a lot of debate about how to improve it. We know there have been high-profile cases where it’s failed miserably. But do we really understand what safeguarding means on a day-to-day basis for everyone involved in providing or receiving care? And there’s been much discussion about whether ‘adults at significant risk’ is better. Sometimes there’s confusion between safeguarding and adult protection, which relates to investigation of abuse rather than it’s prevention. †¢ Health and social care workers – protecting the vulnerable The terminology can be an issue in itself. We now refer to ‘adults at risk’ after the Law Commission’s report on adult social care pointed out that the previously acceptable term ‘vulnerable adult’ could suggest that the cause of abuse was located with the victim, and didn’t place responsibility with the actions of others. The commission found that people saw the term as â€Å"stigmatising, dated, negative and disempowering†. †¢ Part of a system  Legislation, regulation and guidance are becoming clearer and more consistent, with the implementation of the Law Commission recommendations on adult protection and making safeguarding adult boards – which already exist in most local authorities – mandatory.But there’s still a lot to learn, not least about what constitutes a safeguarding issue and what relates to everyday management, staff practice, quality and safety. Without that clarity, people may worry about over-reacting or taking the wrong action.