eone 13). Many countries took part in accepting the system of the death penalty, in as much where crimes were extreme or not. The death penalty was first used in the United States of America when Daniel Frank was put to death 1622 (Zimring and Hawkins 15). He was convicted of theft in the Colony of Virginia. From that time on, capital punishment has almost always been an issue of the criminal justice system in the United States. With many areas of the world in favoring the issue of capital punishment, some countries refine an important aspect of death penalty, its "symbolic character." Capital punishment supporters often cite public opinion as a reason for retaining it, but public opinion or perception almost invariably follows tradition, and the death penalty as symbol is certainly traditional (Zimring and Hawkins 13). Along with its symbolization of governmental authority to employ power against those who threaten society, with murder, rape, etc., if when the government surrenders that power,the public will view that society will be incapable of protecting itself. Therefore in reality, the death penalty is much relevant to controlling the violence it claims. Whereas, a sacrificial ritual is done when one's life is taken by another, however, not toward the point of slaughter is in effect. It's not so much an eye for an eye, as it is that certain criminal atrocities against the innocent demand the symbolic blood offering of the criminal's life (Sidney). With many countries retaining the death penalty, many others abolished the penalty or stopped executing criminals, for it conflicted with the right to life and its bad results. By then eight more states, all European nations, Australia, and New Zealand had either abolished the penalty or stopped executing criminals (Zimring and Hawkins). Upon the debate over capital punishment, the death penalty is a guaranteed method to eliminate a relapse of criminal behavior. As many speak, cr...
