Assignment task:
According to the US Supreme Court and the US Constitution, capital punishment is acceptable when the severity of the sentence has been deemed to be appropriate to the severity of the crime. Some people believe the death penalty is a just form of capital punishment for the crime of first degree murder. Currently, 31 states permit capital punishment.
On the other hand, some people believe the death penalty is unjust because it violates the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution, which forbids "cruel and unusual punishment."
Watch the following videos regarding the death penalty debate:
YouTube Video: The Death Penalty Debate
YouTube Video: Death Penalty & Anti Death Penalty: Is There Middle Ground? | Middle Ground
Write a letter to your state legislator in which you explain whether or not you believe the death penalty is a just form of capital punishment to be permitted in your state. You will need to use 4 reliable sources to support your viewpoint (wikipedia is not a reliable source and the videos above cannot be included as your source). These sources will need to listed in APA format.
For this assignment, you will need to pick a side (cannot take a neutral stance). In your letter, you will need to include the following information.
Pro Death Penalty - The case for the death penalty (use the sources to prove that the death penalty is a valid form of criminal punishment). Use examples of death penalty cases to support your viewpoint. Explain what types of charges it should be used for and what method should be used (i.e. lethal injection, electric chair, etc.).
Anti Death Penalty - The case against the death penalty (use the sources to prove that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment). Use examples of death penalty cases to support your viewpoint. Explain what other alternatives can be used if the death penalty was abolished.
You will also need to incorporate at least 3 of the concepts below when writing your letter. When writing your letter, designate at least one paragraph for each concept (i.e. you should have at least 3 paragraphs for this section). You should introduce evidence that supports your stance in relation to the ideas that you choose to discuss.
- Deterrence
- Retribution
- Victim's rights
- cost
- 8th Amendment violation
- public opinion
- Innocence - Exoneration/moratorium
- Time - length of incarceration + appeal issues
- Justness/Fairness - discrimination and disparities
- Aggravating and mitigating circumstances
- International comparisons