Facts about Capital Punishment

"Capital punishment is as fundamentally wrong as a cure for crime, as charity is wrong as a cure for poverty." - Henry Ford

Capital punishment or death penalty is a form of execution of criminals, adopted and practiced since many years. It has not yet been clearly justified, although, there have been a number of debates that argue, if capital punishment is fair. Many reasons have been cited in support and against its practice. Supporters of capital punishment have termed it as a crime deterrent, but those against it claim that it does not deter crime; it only lowers the moral levels of the government. The implementation of capital punishment in the US dates back to 1608, after which it has undergone many reforms over the past two centuries. The application of capital punishment is very rare, mostly for aggravated murder, and it has also been abolished in some of the US states and territories. Here are some facts about capital punishment.

World Facts about Capital Punishment

• 90 countries of the world have abolished the practice of capital punishment for all crimes. 32 countries have death penalty as law, but no executions have been carried out.
• As of 2006, 90% of all executions were carried out in Asia and USA. The number of people executed in 25 countries were 1,591 and the number of defendants sentenced to capital punishment were 3,861.
• The methods used for executions, since 2000, are lethal injection, hanging, beheading, electrocution, stoning and shooting.
• Prohibition of execution and sentencing to death of offenders under the age of 18, has been established by international human rights treaties, like the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, etc.

Facts about Capital Punishment in the US

• Around 13,000 people have been executed with capital punishment, since the colonial times.
• US ranks fourth in the number of executions every year.
• The US court banned the practice of capital punishment in 1972, but it was later reinstated in 1976. The total number of executions since then is 1,158.
• Capital punishment has been abolished in the District of Columbia and 12 states that include Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. 38 US states, even the US military, allow death penalty.
• Since 1976, the largest number of executions were carried out in Texas.
• The methods used for execution are lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging and firing squad. The primary method of execution is the lethal injection.
• The total number of inmates on death row, as of January 1, 2009, is 3,297, of which 45% are white, 41.6% are black and 11% are Hispanic.
• If the race of the defendants executed since 1976 is considered, 57% white, 34% black and 7% Hispanic defendants have been executed.
• Capital punishment is exclusive to crimes involving murder; however, other crimes, like the rape of a child has also been punishable under capital punishment.
• There were 51 women on death row as of 31st, December 2007. 11 women have been executed, since 1976.
• Since the reinstatement of capital punishment in 1976, it was first repealed by New Jersey in 2007, followed by New Mexico in 2009.
• Around 65% of the US population are in support of capital punishment.
• Since 1973, 124 prisoners have been released after being proved innocent by evidence.

Much has been said about the pros and cons of capital punishment. Its efficiency as a deterrent to crime is yet to be established and whether it is a justified solution to crime still remains a debatable issue.