The so-called "death penalty" has been around since the ancient Greek times, when Socrates, at the age of 70, was brought to trial and charged with "not believing in the gods the state believed in, introducing different new divine powers, and corrupting the young. Socrates was summoned to drink the cup of hemlock, for having criticized the tyranny of Critias, the oppressor or Athens. Today only the United States and Turkey enforce executions. .
The first question that should be addressed, is whether or not we should enforce and even carry out capital punishment. If we do, what affects will it have on society? The second question then is, if the executions should or should not be televised and what kind of impact will it have on society? These questions are very difficult to answer because both have strong points to this ongoing debate. To understand more about capital punishment, we must understand the legal requirements and judicial procedures to be summoned to executions. Then we will see the different methods used to carry out the executions. And finally, measure the pros and a con televising them has on society. .
It's interesting that there is even a division of opinion concerning this question in both the people who support the death penalty and those who oppose it. Some who oppose the death penalty want to televise executions with hopes that it would reduce public support for the death penalty; some who support the death penalty oppose it on this same basis. Others who support the death penalty favor televised executions on the basis that it would help enhance the deterrent effect; while some who oppose the death penalty also oppose televised executions on the grounds that doing so makes the society more barbaric.
The only criminals who are subjected to the death penalty are capital offenders. Capital offenders are the criminals who commit murder. These criminals go to court.
