Death Penalty
History
8th Amendment: “Cruel and Unusual
Punishment”
Supreme Court Decisions:
– 1972 Furman v. Georgia = unconstitutional
– 1976 Gregg v. Georgia = OK to use and
states decide if they want it
Today
37 states have / use Death Penalty (NJ)
Methods:
Lethal Injection
Gas Chamber
Firing Squad
Hanging
Electric Chair
Issue with Death Penalty
Deterrent Effect:
Location and time of executions???
Length of time
10 years 10 months is average amount of
time from conviction to execution!
Cost – expense of executing vs. life in
prison???
Death Penalty in Oregon
Lethal Injection:
– Sodium Pentothol (induces sleep)
– Pancuronium Bromide (stops breathing)
– Potassium Chloride (stops heart)
Executed 2 people since 1976
Currently have 32 people on Death Row