Death penalty in South Carolina
Polls show that roughly two-thirds of Americans support
the death penalty; however, the recent trend has seen a slowdown in the
number of executions. In 1999, there were 98 executions in the United
States, but only 46 executions in 2010. While 34 states and the federal
government allow capital punishment, only 12 states actually carried out
an execution in 2010 (Dieter, 2011).
Tasks:
In this assignment, you will discuss the death penalty
in your own state. Write a 2- to 3-page paper discussing the following
questions:
- Does South Carolina allow the death
penalty? If so, please give some examples of aggravating and mitigating
factors that your state recognizes. If your state does not allow the
death penalty, discuss the history of the death penalty in your state
and what the state offers in the alternative. - Describe whether South Carolina’s policy has
had any impact on crime. Include in your discussion the crime rates in
comparison to the number of executions. Do you agree or disagree with
your state’s policy regarding the death penalty? - Speculate on what you think the future
holds for the death penalty in the United States. Consider the recent
Supreme Court’s decisions, the groups calling for the end of capital
punishment, the cost of executions, and any other factors that may
influence the future. Explain your conclusions.