The Death Penalty: Justice for All?

             The first recorded case where the death penalty was implemented as a form of punishment in the United States was in 1622 for theft (Grabowski 52). The system has come a long way since then, but does it issue justice to all? Theft is no longer considered a crime punishable by death, but who are we to determine what is an even trade for execution? The death penalty has been a topic of debate for a long time. One aspect that had caused much controversy is whether or not those with an IQ that falls under the category of mentally disabled should be executed. Should they be punished for their crime or should it be taken into account that they do not understand that what they did was wrong? This paper will examine the Church's views, Catholic social teaching, and society's opinions on the death penalty.
             "Undoubtedly, one possessing a normal mind should be held to a full, strict accountability for his conduct, but, should a person with a pronounced subnormal mind be held to the same high degree of accountability?" Commonwealth v. Green, 396 Pa. 137, 151 A.2d 241 (1959). Many members of the judicial system have found it to be un-Constitutional to execute people with mental disabilities. On the other hand, many find IQ to be an unnecessary factor in determining a death sentence. The rights of the mentally disabled have been glossed over for years. Many judges from numerous cases take this into account when determining a sentence for someone who is mentally disabled. Quite a few cases referenced the cases of Buck v. Bell as an example of ill treatment of the mentally ill. In this particular case, a "feeble-minded" woman was ordered to be sterilized so she would not be "a threat to society". One very recent case was reported in The Los Angeles Times on August 19, 2000. Oli!
             ver David Cruz was executed after testing as low as a 63 on an IQ examination. He was charged with the abduction, rape, and ...

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The Death Penalty: Justice for All? . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 10:43, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/67597.html