NCJ Number
169390
Journal
Crime & Delinquency Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (January 1998) Pages: 19-31
Date Published
1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article considers the death penalty in historical context and in the contexts of several philosophies of punishment.
Abstract
The major purposes of punishment historically have been retribution, expiation, deterrence, reformation and social defense. The article attempts to show linkages among proportionality, equivalence, retribution, capital punishment, and deprivation of liberty; and to demonstrate that there is no rationale of punishment or disposition of a convicted offender that requires the death penalty. The article draws on ancient Greek scholars for ideas concerning punishment, including the death penalty, and also examines more recent philosophies and theories regarding punishment of offenders. Last year South Africa became the 42nd nation since the Second World War to abolish capital punishment and declare it unconstitutional. The United States is alone among Western industrialized countries in retaining the death penalty. However, individual States have the power to abolish the death penalty, as Michigan did more than 150 years ago. Notes, references