The Death Penalty

Part I.

Introduction to the Death Penalty.

A brief History of the Death Penalty.

Part II.

The Court Systems in Washington State.

Facts on how the Courts are structured, the Death Penalty Process in Washington State, and the appeals process.

Part III.

Why the Death Penalty doesn't Work.

Simply some quick reasons it just doesn't work.

Part IV.

What would make the Death Penalty more effective.

My own theory on what would improve it.

Part V.

Conclusion

PART I.

In order to analyze the Death Penalty and decide what would make it more effective, its history is imperative to know. The first instituted Death Penalty laws date back into the 18th century B.C.E. known as the Code of Hammerabi. In this code there are twenty-five crimes where one could receive death as a punishment (WSU). Of noteworthy importance in the code was its concern for the rights of victims. In reality, this code may have been the first "victims' rights statute" in history. Unfortunately,

society began to neglect victims in its rush to punish the offender, with the result victims' right would not resurface until the 20th century.

Throughout history the death penalty, in some degree, has always been instituted for the crimes of Treason and Murder. The Death Penalty is simply the legal infliction of death for a most serious criminal act. This is what we refer to as Capital Punishment. The first recorded execution in the New World was in the territory of Virginia in 1608 C.E.. The convicted, Captain George Kendall, was charged and convicted of being a spy for the Kingdom of Spain (espionage) and hence, executed (DPIC). Since then, the Death Penalty has remained in our criminal law statutes.

PART II.

The court system in the United States is based on the principle of federalism.