The death penalty has been around since the Colonial times in America. In 1608 James Kendall was the first colonist to be executed in the New World (Closeup 1). In this time there were 14 offenses that the death penalty was accountable for (Closeup 1). In 1682 William Penn’s act limited capital punishment to only murder and treason (Closeup 1). In 1788 the U.S. Constitu

Capital punishment is a very persuasive way to deter violent crime, but it is difficult to provide sufficient evidence of this. One study, done by Stephen K. Layson, shows that each execution from 1933 to 1969 has resulted in 15 fewer homicides (Closeup 8). “Death rows must be emptied by execution to show criminals that society will not show mercy to murders” (Closeup 9). “Although in a recent nationwide survey of police chiefs and sheriffs, capital punishment was ranked last as a way of reducing violent crime” (Prodigy 1). “Besides, no criminal commits a crime if he believes he will be caught” (Prodigy 1).

The number of executions has varied throughout time, starting out high, then declining, and then raising again (Closeup 3). From the 1920’s till the 1930’s an average of 167 people per year, were being executed (Closeup 3). In the 1940’s the number dropped to about 128 per year (Closeup 3). By the 1950’s there were only 72 people being executed per year (Closeup 4). In the 60’s many people were beginning to doubt the fairness and effectiveness of the death penalty (Closeup 4). This number then began to grow from here on, due to new laws being implemented, such as it now being constitutional to execute the mentally retarded, or being executed once over the age of eighteen for crimes committed when under eighteen (Closeup 4).

Even though this punishment has been around for so long only thirty-eight states in America use the death penalty (Essential 1). The only twelve states that do

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