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DEATH PENALTY - CRUEL OR JUST PUNISHMENT?

NCJ Number
66152
Author(s)
C COLBY
Date Published
1980
Length
0 pages
Annotation
DESIGNED FOR USE IN JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGHS, AS WELL AS WITH ADULT AUDIENCES, THIS SOUND FILMSTRIP DISCUSSES THE VALUE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN RELATION TO JUSTICE AND DETERRENCE.
Abstract
THE CHIEF ARGUMENT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IS BASED ON THE OLD IDEA OF AN 'EYE FOR AN EYE,' OR RETALIATORY JUSTICE. THE MURDERER'S JUST PENALTY IS DEATH. BY THE STANDARD OF RETALIATORY JUSTICE, A MERE PRISON SENTENCE IS UNFAIR TO THE VICTIM AND UNFAIR TO THE SACREDNESS OF HUMAN LIFE. THE COUNTERARGUMENT ON THE JUSTICE QUESTION IS THAT, WHATEVER THE THEORETICAL MERITS OF 'PROPORTIONATE' JUSTICE, THESE MERITS BREAK DOWN IN PRACTICE. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ADMINISTERED BY A GREAT MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN MANY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, IS A SYSTEM OF MANY INEQUALITIES. FACTORS SUCH AS RACE, SOCIAL STATUS, ABILITY TO AFFORD A SKILLED LAWYER, AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCALE COUNT A GREAT DEAL IN THE PROCESS. TO USE THIS HIGHLY FLAWED SYSTEM TO TAKE A HUMAN LIFE IS UNJUST, AND FURTHER, IT IS IMMORAL BECAUSE WHILE MURDER IS WRONG, TO COMPOUND THAT ACT WITH JUDICIAL MURDER ADDS A SECOND WRONG. THE QUESTION OF DETERRENCE AS JUSTIFICATION FOR THE DEATH PENALTY IS OPEN TO DEBATE. EVIDENCE IS INCONCLUSIVE ON EITHER SIDE. THE FILMSTRIP PRESENTS THE DEATH PENALTY ISSUE FROM SEVERAL VIEWPOINTS, GIVES SOME BACKGROUND, AND ENDS WITH MATERIAL FOR AUDIENCE DISCUSSION. THE KIT CONTAINS A COLOR FILMSTRIP, AN AUDIO CASSETTE, AND A DISCUSSION GUIDE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--PRG)