Death Penalty

In today's society the death penalty is a very hot topic. There are many different points of view and many different arguments can be made for both sides. For me, the death penalty has never been a question of "right or wrong". I grew up in a household where my father was a cop and former military as well as both of my grandfathers. Until having to write this paper I had never sat down and thought about the death penalty in the aspect of being "right or wrong". I believe the death penalty is a good and just punishment for some of the crimes committed in our society.

In my research I have found that the death penalty is very rarely used. I know that it seems untrue when you look at the fact that at the end of 2002 there were 3,557 prisoners awaiting execution. Of those prisoners only 71 of them were put to death. 70 of the 71 executions were done by lethal injection the other 1 was by electrocution. Of those executed 53 were white and 18 were black. 69 were male and 2 were females. At the end of 2002 the youngest inmate on death row was 18 and the oldest was 87.

38 states authorize any of the execution methods listed below: Lethal injection, electrocution, hanging, firing squad, or lethal gas. 17 states authorize more than one method. Lethal injection and an alternative method, the method of execution is usually chosen by the condemned prisoner. 5 of these 17 stipulate which method must be used depending on the date of sentencing. In most of the states the minimum age that is authorized for capital punishment is 18. The youngest is 14 unless some special considerations have been made by each state. These states include Arkansas, Utah, and Virginia. Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and South Dakota do not have specified ages.

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with the death penalty. I do however believe that the penalty should be administered quickly. I don't