Give the definition of Capital Punishment.
Capital Punishment is the death sentence awarded for capital offences like crimes involving planned murder, multiple murders, repeated crimes, rape and murder, and where the criminal is regarded as a gross danger to the existence of society and provides death punishment.
Name an organisation which wishes to abolish Capital Punishment.
An organisation looking to abolish Capital Punishment would be Amnesty International.
Give six examples of countries operating Capital Punishment.
Six examples of countries operating Capital Punishment include:
- China
- United States
- Pakistan
- Iran
- North Korea
- Saudi Arabia
Why are criminals punished? You should give multiple reasons in your answer. There are six reasons.
Reasons why criminals are punished include:
- Deterrent - to put others off
- Protection - from dangerous criminals
- Retribution - to take revenge
- Vindication - to uphold the law
- Repayment - reparation, to make good the damage caused
- Reform/rehabilitation - to turn the criminal around
Give some arguments FOR capital punishment. There are 8 arguments for.
Arguments FOR capital punishment:
-terrorists who indiscriminately kill people should be hanged
- deterrent to potential murders/heinous crimes
- existed forever - why abolish now?
- protects civilians and police
- expresses total abhorrence of murder
- law should be based on: ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’
- retribution - the ultimate payback
- cheapest and most effective way of dealing with a serious criminal.
Give some arguments AGAINST capital punishment. There are 8 against.
Arguments AGAINST capital punishment:
-convicted terrorists may turn into martyrs
- law condemns murder, yet capital punishment is carried out, which is murder
- not always a deterrent eg Texas crime rate
- inhumane
- executioner seen as murderer in society
- innocent people may be killed
- idea should be rehab, not to kill
- life is sacred (precious, god given and holy)