CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE DEATH PENALTY ENQUIRY

• NCJ Number: 11795
• Author(s): E R CALVERT
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 404 pages
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ARGUMENT AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS IMMORAL, UNJUST, AND NOT A DETERRENT AGAINST CRIME.

Abstract

STATISTICS ARE CITED FROM BRITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO SHOW THAT WHENEVER THE DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN ABOLISHED THE CRIMES FOR WHICH IT WAS IMPOSED HAVE EITHER NOT INCREASED OR ACTUALLY DECREASED. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT EXECUTIONS ARE UNJUST FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS - THEY ARE IRREVOCABLE IN CASES OF JUDICIAL ERROR, THEY ENCOURAGE JURIES TO BRING IN VERDICTS CONTRARY TO THE FACTS, AND THEY ARE UNJUST RETRIBUTION SINCE OTHER FACTORS INDICATE THAT THE MURDERER IS NOT ALWAY A FREE MORAL AGENT. HE FURTHER ARGUES THAT EXECUTIONS DEMORALIZE PRISONERS AND PRISON OFFICIALS, EXERCIZE AN UNHEALTHY INFLUENCE ON THE PUBLIC, AND RUN COUNTER TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS. INCLUDED IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUIRY IN 1930 INTO THE QUESTION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BY A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, WHICH SUBSTANTIATED THE ARGUMENTS OF THE AUTHOR AND RECOMMENDED AN EXPERIMENTAL ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY FOR 5 YEARS.