Excerpts on Death Penalty
The Death Penalty is a form of torture
The cruelty of torture is evident. Like torture, an execution constitutes an extreme physical and mental assault on a person already rendered helpless by government authorities. Abolitionist groups claim that the cruelty of the death penalty is manifest not only in the execution but in the time spent under sentence of death, during which the prisoner is constantly contemplating his or her own death at the hands of the state. Prison is an extraordinarily severe punishment that should not be exacerbated with torture or the death penalty.
Torture Defined
Torture of prisoners violates the Eight Amendment’s provision against Cruel and Unusual Punishment, and also constitutes a violation of several international laws. The United Nations Convention on Torture defined torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”
An example of torture in the US Criminal Justice System
In May 1998, a lawsuit was filed concerning conditions for death row inmates in Idaho Maximum Security Institution. The suit states that inmates are held in solitary confinement for 163 of every week's 168 hours in small concrete and steel cells with solid metal doors and a narrow slit for a window. Inmates are allowed out of their cells for a maximum of one hour a day, excluding weekends, for recreation, alone and handcuffed in one of 12 enclosed wire mesh pens measuring approximately seven by 15 feet. The prisoner named in the lawsuit, Randy McKinney, states that he has lived under such a regime for 16 years, and that such treatment constitutes torture.
The Death Penalty is a form of torture
The cruelty of torture is evident. Like torture, an execution constitutes an extreme physical and mental assault on a person already rendered helpless by government authorities. Abolitionist groups claim that the cruelty of the death penalty is manifest not only in the execution but in the time spent under sentence of death, during which the prisoner is constantly contemplating his or her own death at the hands of the state. Prison is an extraordinarily severe punishment that should not be exacerbated with torture or the death penalty.
Torture Defined
Torture of prisoners violates the Eight Amendment’s provision against Cruel and Unusual Punishment, and also constitutes a violation of several international laws. The United Nations Convention on Torture defined torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”
An example of torture in the US Criminal Justice System
In May 1998, a lawsuit was filed concerning conditions for death row inmates in Idaho Maximum Security Institution. The suit states that inmates are held in solitary confinement for 163 of every week's 168 hours in small concrete and steel cells with solid metal doors and a narrow slit for a window. Inmates are allowed out of their cells for a maximum of one hour a day, excluding weekends, for recreation, alone and handcuffed in one of 12 enclosed wire mesh pens measuring approximately seven by 15 feet. The prisoner named in the lawsuit, Randy McKinney, states that he has lived under such a regime for 16 years, and that such treatment constitutes torture.
I do not agree on death penalty. Its too harsh, I can not come up with a crime that would justify such a "extreme" punishment. I understand that there is some things that can not go unpunish, but death and torture are not the solution. We are suppose to develop into a better race, but we seem to prefer our old, primitive ways than to acquired a better sense of life and try to solve our problems without behaving like total savages. I feel sorry for Randy, because even if he was the worts man on Earth he as still human, he could still feel. I will never agree on harming people. Somehow deep indise we are all good, it is just that some people make more mistakes than others.
ResponderEliminar1)Do you think that death row inmates are experiencing mental anguish?
To me, it inmates are experiencing more mental than physical anguish. They have to wait and while they wait they think of all the different ways they could die. That should be a lot worse than the actual thing.
2)Does the situation constitute torture?
YES, torture does not necessarily mean it should be physical, and we all know that the only thing worst than physical anguish is mental anguish.
3)What is your definition of torture?
Any attempt to physicaly or mentaly harm somebody no matter the excuse.
4)Do you believe that being on death row is a form of physical or mental torture? Why or why not? Mental torture, because I could never live without knowing what kind of extreme pain they are going to inflict on me.
5)Does being on death row strip people of their human dignity and worth, and therefore violate their human rights?
YES, we are all humans and that means that we will always have human rights, nobody deserves so much suffering.
by: Laura García Hernández 4I
I dont agree with deat penalty, its true that some crimes are terrible (the murder of someone that you love) because they damage other people in a very hard way, but no one has the right to take others life, there are another options like life imprisonment.
ResponderEliminar1. Do you think that death row inmates are experiencing mental anguish? Yes, because prisioners are held in solitary confinement for large period of time, in small concrete cells with a very small window, waiting for their own deat, the anguish of knowing that their own deat is comming Is the worst punishment (I think.)
2. Does the situation constitute torture? Yes, its mental torture, and sometimes mental torture is worst than physical torture, because it can leave the prisioner traumed for the rest of they life (In case they dont have death penalty XP)
3. What is your definition of torture? Its a physical or mental harm wich afects a person in a very strong way, making him suffer and privates the person for their rights, sometimes killing the tortured person.
4. Do you believe that being on death row is a form of physical or mental torture? Why or why not? Its kind of mental torture, deathrow penals dont suffer only on the moment of their deat, but the time before that its a calvary for them, just imagine what you will feel if you know that your time is counted?
5. Does being on death row strip people of their human dignity and worth, and therefore violate their human rights? Yes, persons in deat penalty are no worthy for other persons, they dont even deserve to live, but nobody has the right to takes one life, and life is one of the most important human right.
Alan Mar
Well I cannot say I agree with death penalty or torture itself but again I haven’t been on a situation that makes me reconsider. I think that if someone dares to do something, anything, to the people I love, would be too damn hard for me not to wish him/her dead. So, I can only say that I believe that there are other alternatives to punish people who did wrong and that well, it’s nice to remember that “eye for eye, we all go blind”.
ResponderEliminar1) Do you think that death row inmates are experiencing mental anguish?
Of course! Just imagine waking up every single day knowing that the day you’re gonna die its closer than it was yesterday. Knowing the exact hour you’re gonna sleep to never wake up. It’s exhausting to think about it. You can’t think about getting an opportunity, it’s all set and almost done. Come on! It has to be better not knowing.
2) Does the situation constitute torture?
Well yeah! How can it get worse? Your future is totally decided, you’re gonna die. The only thing that’s left for you is to pray cause, hope is now gone.
3) What is your definition of torture?
The physical or mental harm which is intentionally inflicted on a person to get something in exchange.
4) Do you believe that being on death row is a form of physical or mental torture? Why or why not?
I would have to say both. Mostly mentally because as I already said knowing that someone is going to kill you 5 years from now, it’s not exactly the definition of vacations. And physical because you are gonna get old, get sick and deteriorate with the years.
5) Does being on death row strip people of their human dignity and worth, and therefore violate their human rights?
Yes and here’s the dilemma. As everyone knows it, all human have the same rights that should be always respected by everyone else. BUT… if I kill, I disrespect someone else’s right, so didn’t I just lose the right to be treated like a respectable human?
Carla Millán
I agree with Carla, the situation in the text dont make me to reconsider anything, we dont know Randy (the person in the text) Im against the deat penalty, but if someone harm a person that I really love, I think that the hate and pain will make us to want deat for that person as painful as we can imagine... =3
ResponderEliminarYeah, we can all say that death penalty isn't really necesary when we are not involve in the situation, but if we were really in the situation would we change our mind? I don't think you can be 100% against death penalty. Although I am 100% against torture.
ResponderEliminarHow can you (Laura) say that you are a 100% against Torture when you already stated that you do consider Death Penalty one of the most terribly mental tortures and you also thought about a remote situation where possibly you’ll vote in favor of Death Penalty? Isn’t it a little bit contradictory?
ResponderEliminarCarla Millán
I think that death penalty isn't a good way to punish the criminals who committed some major crime like murder, and it's because we're doing the same as that person... killing someone.
ResponderEliminarA criminal needs to be tortured? well prison is torture enough I think, and that's because you've thrown your liberty away and chose to live in a little cell with a little window that barely let's sunlight come by, and that's even more frustrating than simply dying...
1) Do you think that death row inmates are experiencing mental anguish?
Of course, it would be very traumatizing that you will know the moment you will die, and that you can't do anything to change something and think about those things you haven't did and maybe you will never would...
2) Does the situation constitute torture?
It IS a torture to be there... waiting the moment you'll be standing in front of the electric chair, or the moment they insert the needle to poison you... a mental torture if you ask me...
3) What is your definition of torture?
It a way of harming someone (physically or mentally) for a reason, like trying to get information, racial problems, etc.
4) Do you believe that being on death row is a form of physical or mental torture? Why or why not?
It IS a mental torture to know that you will eventually die without any salvation and you left your life in the hands of the person who is gonna inject you
5) Does being on death row strip people of their human dignity and worth, and therefore violate their human rights?
Yes, because it is stated that no one can take the life of other person, no matter the case, but I don't think that someone would act that way if they see someone they love to get killed by the hands of the person who is going to get the death penalty...
Err... I don't really like this kinds of topics because I know that we're dealing with other peoples lives, it's such a shame that murder and killing still happens these days.... anyway, I agree with all of you that think that death penalty isn't a good way to resolve the problem, and it's because we are doing the same thing as the criminal, so here's the answer... killing the criminal will revive the victim?....
ResponderEliminarI personally think that, independently that taking somebody’s life it’s against human rights, death penalty is not the answer to solve a case, let’s say of murder. Don’t you think it would be a real punishment to be taken from your freedom? Of course this is how it should be meant to be, but unfortunately, correctionals don’t correct criminals, so they keep doing there stuff over and over again. Anyway, I still think that death penalty is not the solution, first, cause by killing someone you’re violation their human rights and exposing them to several types of torture, and the government will be doing exactly the same act for what they’re charging the criminal, so they will be just like the; and second, it doesn’t state a real punish for what the criminal just did, it would be more like an “exit”. But at the end it all depends from the glass you see it.
ResponderEliminar1) Do you think that death row inmates are experiencing mental anguish?
Absolutely, just imagine living with the idea that in some days they’ll took your life away from you? It would be just to much for anybody.
2) Does the situation constitute torture?
Of course it does. As I said on number 1, just to be thinking on the idea that in I don’t know how many days they’ll kill you is mentally exhaustive. Like Pepe said, mental torture.
3) What is your definition of torture?
Anyway of painful harm (psychological or physical) to anybody, no matter the purpose of it.
4) Do you believe that being on death row is a form of physical or mental torture? Why or why not?
It is both physical and mental torture, cause if you keep thinking on your death day and that you’ll never gonna see anyone of your family again is mental torture, and cause you’re thinking of that you’ll stop eating and taking care of your body, so you get sick.
5) Does being on death row strip people of their human dignity and worth, and therefore violate their human rights?
Yes, cause it’s said that no one can take away other’s person’s life, no matter the circumstances. But seeing it from the point of view of the people that got hurt because of that criminal, I think I wouldn’t mind.
It was you CARLA that gave me the idea that maybe walking on somebody else choose ( the victim) makes you wonder on death penalty, its trueee, its mental torture, but what can I say , i has a change of heart yesterday, maybe I was wrong in believving that everybody is goos at heart, so I guess it depends on where you stand to agree or disagree.
ResponderEliminarNow I get you :)...
ResponderEliminarBut now that we all agree, I gotta ask: if death penalty isn't the solution.. well, what's the goddamn solution?!
the million dollar question.. don't you think that if that question had an answer, death penalty would've been abolished since long ago?
ResponderEliminar