st problem that should be observed is that of innocence. At least twenty-three people in America have been executed who did not commit the crime they were accused of (McCuuen 50) . That is only those that people know of and here lies an inherent danger of capital punishment...when the state execute an innocent person. The real killer is still on the streets, ready to victimize someone else, but when an innocent person is arrested, he is often the driving reason behind further investigation. If he is executed than the case remains closed forever. On the other hand, at least, until someone else is killed by the real perpetrator.There are certain standards that are followed in giving out capital punishment. The defendant cannot be insane. In addition, minors very rarely receive the death penalty because they are not fully mature and might not know the consequences of their actions (Winter 87). Finally the mentally retarded are very seldom executed. The reason for not executing the retarded is that they often have difficulty defending themselves in court, have problems remembering details, locating witnesses, and testifying credibly on their own behalf. There are seven main types of execution: Hanging, where the prisoner is blindfolded and stands on a trap door, with a rope around his neck. The trap door is opened suddenly. The weight of the prisoner's body below the neck causes traction separating the spinal cord from the brain. The second most widely used technique is shooting, where a firing quad shoots the prisoner from some meters away. Another method is Guillotine, a device consisting of a heavy blade held aloft between upright guides and dropped to behead the victim below. Then there was garroting, in which a tightened iron collar is used to strangle or break the neck of a condemned person. One of the more recent is Electrocution where the prisoner is fastened to a chair by his chest, groin, arms and legs. Electrodes are placed aroun...
