 Capital punishment has been around for centuries. However, a long history does not give anyone the right to sentence a person to death based upon their crime.

 In biblical times capital punishment was by means of stoning someone to death  The crime however, was the worst possible, unlike today.

THEN NOW  Stoning  Hanging  Firing squad  Lethal Gas  Lethal Injection  Electrocution

1924-first introduction of lethal gas

Theresa Lewis-the first woman to be executed in VA by lethal injection.

 The Death Penalty serves two purposes: › Deterrence of capital crimes to be committed › Retribution of crime

 7.1 years : average time spent on death row › Death sentences take years to conclude › This wait traumatizes the victim’s family  7.1 years : average time spent on death row › Death sentences take years to conclude › This wait traumatizes the victim’s family

 With the waiting of a sentence, the focus is taken from the victim and their family, to the criminal and the courts.

1940s-death penalty was declared ILLEGAL 1976-Capital Punishment reinstated 1977-NO death penalty as punishment for rape of an adult woman that is not murdered  December 7,1982-Charles Brooks became the first person executed by lethal injection  1984-Velma Barfield, first woman to be executed

1986-Banned execution of insane persons

1994-Gov.Allen, allowed victim’s families to view execution

 Youngest to be executed, 16 year old Percy Ellis  Oldest to be executed, 68 year old Joe Lee

 $11 million a year for death row system

 US tax payers  Every time taxes are increased someone new is added to death row

 Since 1973, 138 people have been released from death row

 Violence prevention  Solving unsolved cases  Increasing service for victim’s and their families

 Who has the right to take a life

 “Can’t cure murder with murder”