Legal issues surrounding the death penalty

Sample Answer

The death penalty, or capital punishment, is one of the most contentious issues in criminal justice and human rights globally. Its legality and morality are debated fiercely, involving complex ethical, legal, and social considerations.

Legal Issues Surrounding the Death Penalty

Human Rights Violations:

Right to Life: Amnesty International and other human rights organizations argue that the death penalty inherently violates the fundamental right to life, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment: Many international bodies and countries view capital punishment as a form of cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment, violating international human rights law. Prolonged stays on death row ("death row phenomenon") can also be considered a form of psychological torture.

Irreversibility and Risk of Error: The most critical legal concern is the irreversible nature of execution. There is documented evidence of individuals being exonerated from death row, proving wrongful convictions. The risk of executing an innocent person is a profound legal and moral dilemma. Since 1973, over 200 people on death row in the U.S. have been exonerated.