Death Penalty in the United States

Overview

• Since 1976, over 1,500 executions in the U.S.
• 190 death sentences have been exonerated.
• Currently, more than 2,400 people on death row.
• Death penalty viewed as an outdated solution to modern problems.

Historical Context

• Colonial Period (400 years ago): Death penalty introduced by European settlers; laws varied by colony.
• Mid-19th Century: Some states began questioning capital punishment, but it remained mostly intact.
• Lynch Mobs: Criticized state executions as slow and costly; sought to exert their own form of racial terror.

State Response to Lynch Mobs

• States viewed lynch mobs as threats to their authority.
• Law enforcement aimed to demonstrate effective retribution to maintain social control.
• As lynchings declined in the early 1900s, state executions increased dramatically.

Public Opinion & Legal Developments

• 1936-1966: Gallup polls show drop in public support for death penalty (62% to 42%).
• 1972: Supreme Court ruling in Furman v. Georgia declared death penalty as 'cruel and unusual punishment.'
• 1976: Death penalty reinstated after states implemented new regulations.

Current Application of Death Penalty

• Arbitrary application of capital punishment based on:
  • Location: Varied by state and county; some counties responsible for most executions.
  • Racial Disparities: Black defendants are disproportionately sentenced to death compared to white defendants.
  • Statistics: Black individuals make up 41% of death row but only 13% of the general population.

Financial Costs

• Executions are expensive; e.g., $4.7 million spent on first five federal executions under Trump administration.
• Costs arise from:
  • Prosecution and judicial expenses.
  • Defense costs for those unable to afford representation.
  • Lengthy capital trials (4 times longer than regular trials).
  • Solitary confinement costs higher than general population imprisonment.
  • Multiple appeals leading to prolonged legal processes.

Victims' Families & Public Sentiment

• Many victims' families oppose executions and public trials.
• As of 2022, 55% of Americans support the death penalty.
• Supporters argue for retribution and justice, despite evidence suggesting it serves vengeance rather than justice.

Conclusion

• The death penalty's history is marked by racial bias and arbitrary enforcement.
• U.S. remains one of the few democratic nations still employing capital punishment.
• Over 70% of countries have abolished the death penalty; a critical question: Do we want a government deciding life and death?