Complications Capital Punishment

Factors contributing to receiving the death penalty Lack of money Lack of money Discrimination –ethnic minority, poor Discrimination –ethnic minority, poor Prejudice in Politics –(states decide what is a capital crime) Prejudice in Politics –(states decide what is a capital crime) Length of time in judicial process (appeal process) Length of time in judicial process (appeal process) Social Standing/perception (Walmart exec.) Social Standing/perception (Walmart exec.) Convictions in error---50% Convictions in error---50%

Death sentence No one else in the world executes children or mentally challenged No one else in the world executes children or mentally challenged Supreme court says must be competent to be executed Supreme court says must be competent to be executed More bias to homosexuals, child offenders than race More bias to homosexuals, child offenders than race Cost ---more money to execute than life in prison Cost ---more money to execute than life in prison

Death row Eat alone Eat alone Caged Caged Solitary confinement - no physical contact Solitary confinement - no physical contact

Problems with Retribution Retribution Retribution Goal is restore order Goal is restore order Follows legal process Follows legal process Emotion is filtered through impartial judge and jury Emotion is filtered through impartial judge and jury Seeks truth through reason Seeks truth through reason Revenge Goal is to inflict equal or greater harm Accepts legal process if punishment is sufficiently severe Only emotions: rage, hatred Follows instinctual urges