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What is a Death Sentence?
A death sentence is a criminal penalty that typically results in the execution of a person as punishment for committing a capital crime. Death sentences are usually carried out by an electric chair, lethal injection, or shooting with one or more firearms. Most countries no longer deliver this type of punishment, though some countries still issue a death sentence for certain crimes, such as terrorism or serial murder, however.
The crimes that lead to a death sentence vary by country and locality. Most commonly, the death sentence is issued for violent crimes, such as murder, terrorism, and aggravated sexual assault. Even these crimes often require special circumstances for a death sentence to be issued. For example, especially violent murder, mass murder, and the sexual assault of a minor are qualifying circumstances in some areas. In rare circumstances, non-violent criminals are put to death for drug offenses, fraud, or extortion by kidnapping.
One of the most common ways to carry out a death sentence is with firearms. This method is typically carried out either with multiple simultaneous shots by different shooters, or a single shot to a vital area, often at close range. When the former method is utilized, often by military establishments, a major goal may be to anonymize the shooter so that no one knows for sure who actually killed the condemned.
Other methods of execution include stoning, gas chamber, or hanging. Stoning is an ancient form of execution by torture that is primarily practiced in Islamic countries. Gas chambers, or airtight chambers filled with poisonous gas, are reportedly used in North Korea and famously were used by the Nazi's during World War II. Lastly, hanging is common to many countries, including India, Iraq, and Japan.
The legal process of carrying out a death sentence is very complex in some countries. Criminals can wait 20 to 35 years before being executed. It is not unusual for older inmates to die of natural causes during this wait. The average time spent on "death row," the special prison areas reserved for those with death sentences, varies but is usually more than one decade and less than two.
In many locales, it is traditional to offer the condemned a last meal before carrying out their execution. This special meal is usually of the convicted person’s choosing, but may be limited by cost or other measurements. Items containing alcohol or tobacco are often refused because of the belief that they may dull the pain of the sentence. While the origins of the last meal tradition are inconclusive, it is often surmised to be a ritualized demonstration of the condemned person’s acceptance of their fate.
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![The guillotine was invented as a quick, accurate way to decapitate a criminal, but it is rarely used in modern times.]()
By: M.RosenwirthThe guillotine was invented as a quick, accurate way to decapitate a criminal, but it is rarely used in modern times. -
![San Quentin State Prison, which houses the only death row for male inmates in California.]()
By: Eric BVDSan Quentin State Prison, which houses the only death row for male inmates in California. -
![An electric chair in the former Louisiana State execution chamber.]()
An electric chair in the former Louisiana State execution chamber. -
![Gas chambers are commonly used as death sentence devices in North Korea.]()
By: Ruslan OlinchukGas chambers are commonly used as death sentence devices in North Korea. -
![Death sentences are usually handed out to people who commit murder or other violent crimes.]()
By: Nomad_SoulDeath sentences are usually handed out to people who commit murder or other violent crimes.
Discussion Comments
Considering all of the problems that have recently arisen with lethal injection, I'm not sure how I feel about the death penalty in general these days. I used to be in favor of a death sentence if the crime was especially heinous and the defendant was clearly guilty and had no remorse. I now see that race and economic status does play a role, unfortunately. There are very few rich people on Death Row.
When I was younger, I was completely against the death penalty because I felt like the government was playing God on my behalf. Yes, this person committed a senseless act of violence that ended with the death of at least one other person, but does the government have the right to decide if he should live or die? Now I see where certain people must forfeit their right to live in order to protect the greater society. If they can't be reformed through counseling, and they know they would commit more crimes if released, then I can see the value of a death penalty.
I actually knew a man who received a death sentence for the murder of two women in Akron, Ohio. He and some other idiots got extremely high and decided to throw rocks off a bridge over a busy expressway. One of the rocks went through the windshield of a car with two female college students inside. He ran down to the crash site, acting like he was going to help them out. Instead, he and his friends raped and murdered both of the women.
I knew the guy back in high school, but not well. He happened to call a friend of mine while he was on Death Row, and I talked to him for a few minutes before my friend arrived. He later tried to argue that death by lethal injection would be "cruel and unusual punishment" for a man of his size. The argument didn't work.
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