Death Penalty In Texas Essay

RUNNING HEAD: Executions pg. 1 Inmate Executions COR 120_191 Mia Lombardi Tiffin University RUNNING HEAD: Executions pg. 2 The question of the constitutionality of the sentencing of an inmate on Death Row in Texas is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court and found in favor of defendant Duane Buck.

Texas holds the title for the state with most executions in the United States gaining heavy scrutiny for the use of death penalty. Many are concerned that the death penalty is in direct violation of the 8th amendment of the constitution which forbids the act of cruel and unusual punishment as well as being wrong on a moral level. This becomes a hot button issue when mental illness comes into play as 30% of Texas's incarcerated inmates, have been clients of the state’s mental health system (“Texas Death Penalty”). Andre Lee Thomas is one of those inmates, sentenced to death, but also deemed mentally unstable.

New death sentences in Texas have dropped nearly 80% since 1999. Juries condemned 3 new individuals to death in Texas in 2016. Death sentences in 1999 when juries sent 48 people to death row. In 2015 and 2016, new death sentences fell to their lowest number since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Texas’ revised death penalty statute in 1976. In 2017, prosecutors sought death in 7 cases resulting in 4 new sentences.

An Ethical Critique of the Texas Death Row Appeals Process Rachel St. Pe’ CJ412-Criminal Justice Ethics Texas A&M University-Central Texas Abstract Although the methods of execution in Texas have evolved throughout time to more humane techniques, an increase in the cost of living of prisoners and the time between conviction and execution has resulted. By shortening the appeals the process, the overall funding and labor to house death row inmates will be decreased and a the possibility of an 8th Amendment violation by keeping prisoners on death row for years and years will be diminished.   Introduction

According to Texas Law, there are nine different specifications an individual of the age of eighteen must do in order to receive Capital Punishment such as, murdering of a peace officer or firefighter, murder during a kidnapping or robbery, a correction officer by an inmate or a judge, in a result while being paid in committing murder, someone who is already sentenced for life or in jail in the act of murder, a child under ten years old, and a murder of more than one person (Background, 2016). II. Rationale and Intent for Texas’ Policy The purpose of the Texas Law “Capital Punishment”

Some see the death penalty as the only means to extract justice for victims. Others see it as a morally reprehensible act where a second wrong is committed in order to make something right. With recent issues surrounding the death penalty in which execution hasn 't gone as planned sparking a nationwide debate, this is my outlook on why I 'm for the death penalty not only being abolished in the state of Texas but in addition to the entirety of the US..

As of 1976-2022, there have been 163 executions by the Electric Chair which is considered the secondary method of execution for the Death Penalty after the lethal injection. In general, it is inhumane kill these inmates and make them suffer for long periods of

The Effectiveness of the Death Penalty in Texas The death penalty is one of the most controversial topics in America today due to its turbulent nature. Capital punishment is highly debated and it encompasses a plethora of ethical, religious, political, and legal issues. Texas is one of the thirty-eight states in the nation that practices this form of punishment. (Naidoff, Caitlin)

Ever since the outset of the American Constitution, capital punishment has existed as a crime sentence in the United States. However, in recent decades, this topic has become highly controversial, as many states have dictated against the death penalty. Although states with this position on capital punishment are increasing, some states, such as Texas, have continued to edict this practice in their provinces. In the State of Texas, the sentence to death upon a person should not be permitted due to the fact it can wrongly convict a person, its court trial is highly expensive, and it brings forth an unjust treatment.

In 1608 there was about one execution, compared to the year 1850 where there was about 4000 executions made. The years between 1900 to 1972 there was almost 8000 executions, performed in the United States. Nevertheless, in 1973 to 2002 the number executions dropped greatly to around 1000 executions. (Table 1). As previously stated the death penalty has gone through drastic changes throughout history, ecpecially the number of executions through the years This chart* chronicles the United State’s use of the death penalty over the past four centuries.

Offenders could be killed through hanging, the gas chamber, firing squad, electrocution, and lastly lethal injection. From the Death Penalty Information Center, “ 3 states (all have lethal injection as primary method) [use the Firing Squad method] Mississippi, Oklahoma, [and] Utah.” This method is only used if lethal injection fails to euthanize the offender. Even though many individuals agree with this type of punishment there are consequences that come along with

The death penalty is a controversial issue that has been debated in the United States for a long period of time. In our own state of Texas, executing convicted criminals has become second nature. This is due to the fact that Texas has executed more people than any other state in the United States since 1976. So why does Texas lead the United States in executions? There are many reasons and factors that has led to this point.

Introduction: Capital punishment has been a criminal sentence imposed in America since colonial times. During this particular time period, the penalty was used for different crimes that went against the social norms, such as horse stealing, rape, burglary, and slave rebellion. Today the death sentence is strictly used in murder cases and in thirty-two out of the fifty states and by the federal system in the United States. In these states, it is completely legal to use the ultimate punishment of death to incapacitate a criminal from committing any further harm to society (Marcus, 2007). Throughout American history, many individuals have supported the death penalty because they believe it is an effective way to deter crime.

The death penalty, is the loss of life, which is induced by different tactics. The most common methods in the United States is lethal injection, hanging, firing squad, and the electric chair. The most chosen method by inmates is lethal injection. Lethal injection consists of the inmate being strapped to an operating table or gurney and a trained medical doctor will place two needles into the veins of the arms(Death Penalty Information Center).

Capital punishment, also referred to as death penalty or execution, is punishment by death. 103 (53%) countries have completely abolished the death penalty while 6 (3%) countries retain this punishment solely for special circumstances, such as war crimes. A total of 86 (44%) countries retain the death penalty, 50 (26%) of which haven’t executed anyone for at least 10 years or are currently under a moratorium. However, if the individual was under the age of eighteen when committing the crime, execution of said individual is prohibited by international law.