Critically evaluate arguments for and against the death penalty.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Seminar Leader: Tom Cockcroft Natalie Norwood

Critically evaluate arguments for and against the death penalty

The Sage Dictionary of Criminology1 defined capital punishment as "punishment by execution...imposed for a range offences....but in Western countries, it is usually reserved for murder." Capital punishment has existed since the early 11th century, when hanging was the penalty imposed on those committing capital crimes. As well as this, until 1868, hangings were public affairs, which were attended by hundreds of civilians. The aim of this essay is to look at the death penalty from the view of pro-death penalty and the abolitionists' views.

The abolition campaign for the death penalty in the UK began in 1808 by Samuel Romilly, who introduced reforms to abolish the death penalty for around 200 "bloody" crimes, including being in the company of gypsies for one month or evidence of strong malice in children aged between 7 and 142. Gradually, over the next two centuries, offences for which the death penalty would be imposed began to receive alternative punishments such as prison sentences. There were many attempts by the British government to abolish the death penalty, but all were rejected. In 1957, there was the