Over the past century, murder rates have gone up a record high leaving the death penalty as the only option to stop murders. There are some criminologists who believe that capital punishment does not prevent crime. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court abolished capital punishment due to the court case Furman vs. Georgia, that made murder rates higher then what they usually were. Many murders are caused by those who know each other i.e., relatives, friends, and acquaintances. Arguments go back and forth whether capital punishment is “cruel and unusual punishment” because of the torture people on death row go through.
Actus Reus • In most cases where only the AR is taken into account, this is not enough to prosecute a person. • The current law on murder suggests that it is enough to convict a person for murder, regardless of their MR/intention. • But how does the law deal with a person who does not know their intention or had no intention to kill. • Moloney: not in right state of mind – under influence of alcohol – committed murder – had no MR as he was not in right state of mine – didn’t know what he was doing – difficult to establish whether guilty of
For the vast majority of these individuals, there will be no bail and dream teams to defend them. Being poor can be a defining issue in whether these people will receive the same treatment as their white or rich counterparts. Gender: In viewing many arrests in my lifetime, there seemed to be an overwhelming silent principle to arrest the ‘man’ rather than the women in abuse cases. Females are believed to not be the aggressor in the relationship, which simply isn’t the case in many instances. A spokesman for the SAVE foundation, Carl Starling, states, “Predominant aggressor laws pressure police officers to arrest the man regardless of who called the police or what person instigated the abuse," according to SAVE spokesman Carl Starling.
The only exception to this was those who were convicted with certain 'benefit of clergy', the transportation statue of 1717, meaning anyone who were connected with the church could be convicted for up to seven years even with crimes that non-clergy members could get 14 years for. In 1776 the Americans declared independence which meant great disaster for Britain as they couldn't cope with the sudden ending of transportation to America which became a major cause in the prison reform movement. Britain turned to Australia as a back up and alternative "dumping ground" and claimed it in the name of the English crown. Convicts would be sent on the four to six month journey to Australia on hulk ships. Before its abolition, over 165,000 people were transported an average of 4,000 people a year.
Why gun control won’t stop crime After the tragedy in Newton CT, where twenty-six innocent people lost their lives gun control seems to be a hot topic again. The ideas of certain types of gun control have been all over the news and radio talk shows ever since the tragedy. But it’s my belief that gun control is not the answer to violent crime, and in my opinion gun control doesn’t make us safer, it just makes law-abiding citizens an easier target for crime. Many opponents for stricter gun control laws have stated it will cut down on violent crime, or mass shootings such as the one in Newtown. Politicians have stated thy will introduce new laws wanting tougher background checks, forced registration, and outright banning of military looking firearms.
Injustice in the Judicial System When the criminal court system was established its intent was to punish the guilty in a humane way and to set the innocent free. From personal experience I have learned that the court system is not about innocence or guilt. The court system is about whom you know and money, usually forcing most people into an involuntary plea. In “Criminal Justice,” it states that, “ the most important real - world fact about our criminal justice system is that a person accused of crimes enjoy no advantages, no matter how many rights the courts and legislatures have apportioned them. For the overwhelming majority of cases, they have no opportunity to exercise any of their rights- instead , these right are plea-bargained away” (64) First of all if you don’t have friends in high places i.e.
This was a very controversial problem because people figured that other criminals would be let free due to courtroom technicalities. The Miranda case involved four criminal defendants. They were all appealing cases were officers failed to inform about their custody interrogation of his right to an attorney or to remain silent. So, this case rite here was the grounds witch the Miranda rights what cops still use
Yes, an individual should be punished for their crimes but the effects of a felony conviction should not include or affect that person’s right to vote, finding employment, or the pursuance of a higher education. According to Olivares, Burton, and Cullen (1996) upon release these offenders also deal with stigmas, loss of job opportunities, friendships, family relationships, and denial of civil rights. When it comes to the loss of job opportunities, a recent study has shown that most employers have hired at least one person with a felony conviction (Sawnson, Langfitt-Reese & Bond, 2012). Employers encourage job seekers with criminal records to be honest and willing to discuss their involvement with the justice system. Most employers did not have strict policies concerning hiring criminals and this is a plus.
The Eighth Amendment and Capital Punishment The death penalty is the most severe penalty in the United States judicial system. It is administered only for the most brutal of crimes. Three out of every four Americans are in favor of the death penalty. Opponents believe that the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Because the death penalty causes such a heated debate among interested individuals, politicians often use the conflict to acquire public support.
An Argument in Support of Lethal Injection For the past few decades, the death penalty has been a very controversial topic in American society. Other countries, for example, the United Kingdom, have already abolished the death penalty. In 2000, the UK banned the death penalty with the signing of the European Convention on Human Rights. Yet, in the United States we are still debating it. The American people have varied views in being for or against the death penalty.