Death Penalty

The Death Penalty:

The Death Penalty A lethal injection gurney

Short Video:

Short Video 15 minute video based on the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral letter

States with the Death Penalty:

States with the Death Penalty Number of Inmates by State

States with the Death Penalty:

States with the Death Penalty 2007 2009 Number of Inmates by State 2011

U.S. Bishops – :

U.S. Bishops – In 2005, the U.S. Bishops issued a pastoral letter on the death penalty: A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death . On the conviction of death row inmates : “ The death penalty in our land is deeply flawed . It has been reported that since the 1970s, more than 120 people who were on death row have been exonerated. The death penalty appears to be often applied unfairly and influenced by where a crime is committed, the race of the victim and offender, the quality and costs of legal defense, and other social factors.” A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death

U.S. Bishops – :

U.S. Bishops – On the deterrence value : “ The question of the death penalty’s deterrence value remains unproven . States with more executions do not generally have lower murder or crime rates. There is no clear evidence that the death penalty prevents or deters crime .” A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death

Murder Rates, States with/without DP:

Murder Rates, States with/without DP Murder rates, per 100,000 population, in states with and without the death penalty.

Murder Rates, States with/without DP:

Murder Rates, States with/without DP Murder rates, per 100,000 population, in states with and without the death penalty.

Murder Rates, States with/without DP:

Murder Rates, States with/without DP Murder rates, per 100,000 population, in states with and without the death penalty.

John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae:

John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae In 1995, Pope John Paul II wrote an encyclical dealing with life issues entitled The Gospel of Life . He asserted that punishment: “ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.”

Church Teaching on Death Penalty:

Church Teaching on Death Penalty The death penalty is not inherently evil, but it can be used only when necessary to protect society. In the modern world, its use is not necessary because of the effectiveness of high security prisons. Therefore, it is immoral / unjust.