death penalty

n. the sentence of execution for murder and some other capital crimes. (See: capital punishment)

death penalty

punishment by way of killing the offender. The various modes through time and space have been hanging (Anglo-American), guillotine (France) and electrocution and lethal injection (USA). It is extremely popular with the public and the families of victims, but, because it is so easy to make a mistake in any judicial process and this particular legal cock-up cannot be corrected by more paper shuffling, it is going out of fashion. While the framers of the US Constitution could not outlaw it by preventing cruel and unusual punishment (if everybody does it, it is usual and if you do it quickly it's not cruel). Modern human rights lawyers have rather started to eliminate it. The penalty no longer exists for any offence in the UK. The UK ratified Protocol 6 of the European Convention in May 1999, which commits contracting parties to permanently abolishing the death penalty. In December 1999 the UK ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which also abolishes the death penalty. The death penalty for treason and piracy was abolished by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

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References in periodicals archive

That the Constitution contemplates the death penalty does not, however, mean that it forever remains constitutional.

This essay, written for the Duke Journal of Constitutional Law and Public Policy Symposium, An Even More Perfect Union: Proposed Amendments to the Constitution, makes the case for a constitutional amendment to abolish the death penalty and lays out possible routes to enactment.

ABOLISHING DEATH

So I return to the question: Is the death penalty really worth it?

Death penalty: Why not?

Thus in June 2006 or about 13 years after the re-imposition of the death penalty, RA 9346 was signed into law.

This move is undeniably so controversial in view of what happened to RA 7659 which is the previous law imposing death penalty. Said RA was repealed precisely because it failed to serve its purpose of deterring the commission of heinous crimes.

Useless and inhumane

The alleged deterrent effect of the death penalty has been repeatedly debunked, Human Rights Watch said.

"The death penalty is a cruel practice that has no place in modern society for combating drug crimes or any other offense," Adams said.

Sri Lanka urged to immediately rescind execution orders

More Americans Say the Death Penalty Is Imposed "Too Often"

Americans remain most likely to say the death penalty is not imposed enough (37%), while smaller percentages say it is imposed "too often" (29%) or "about the right amount" (28%).

New Low of 49% in U.S. Say Death Penalty Applied Fairly

Secondly, the death penalty is used disproportionately against those from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds.

CHARTRES: The death penalty is not a deterrent

Pressed during a DWIZ radio interview, Pacquiao appeared inclined to just press for the crime of top-level drug trafficking just so the death penalty punishment is adopted.

Senate to conduct hearings on death penalty

(2) Public support for the death penalty also dropped by around

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, CONSERVATIVES, AND THE FUTURE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT