History & Society
capital punishment
law
Category:
History & Society
- Also called:
- death penalty
- Key People:
- Caryl Chessman
- Related Topics:
- crucifixion
- lethal injection
- gas chamber
- electrocution
- gallows
Recent News
Jan. 26, 2024, 7:47 PM ET (AP)
Alabama man shook violently on gurney during first-ever nitrogen gas execution
Jan. 26, 2024, 6:35 AM ET (AP)
EU, UN Human Rights Office express regret over execution of a man using nitrogen gas in Alabama
Jan. 26, 2024, 2:53 AM ET (AP)
Alabama executes a man with nitrogen gas, the first time the new method has been used
Jan. 24, 2024, 6:28 PM ET (AP)
Alabama inmate waiting to hear court ruling on scheduled nitrogen gas execution
Jan. 23, 2024, 9:05 AM ET (AP)
Vatican-affiliated Catholic charity makes urgent appeal to stop 'barbarous' Alabama execution
capital punishment, execution of an offender sentenced to death after conviction by a court of law of a criminal offense. Capital punishment should be distinguished from extrajudicial executions carried out without due process of law. The term death penalty is sometimes used interchangeably with capital punishment, though imposition of the penalty is not always followed by execution (even when it is upheld on appeal), because of the possibility of commutation to life imprisonment. Capital punishment for murder, treason, arson, and rape was widely employed in ancient Greece under the laws of Draco (fl. 7th century bce), though Plato argued that ...(100 of 2795 words)