Capital Punishment in Florida Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction

Death penalty as used in executions for capital punishment has been used strictly for cases involving aggravated murder. Capital punishment has been used in Florida and a number of other US states prior to 1967, when its constitutionality was brought to question by the Supreme Court. Certain reforms however were implemented later on in 1976, raising the hopes of critiques that the system would relax its measures on the death penalty. However the methods for capital punishment in the US been carried out a number through a number of lawful means including electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, gas chamber, and firing squad. But controversies over its effectiveness and costs have marred capital punishment’s use of death penalty as a costly affair that eventually doesn’t give the taxpayer a worth for his penny, (Gerald, pg. 12).

Discussion

In the article ‘Special to the Times’ dated July 1, 2008, Gerald Kogan (par. 4) reviews sentiments of Americans about lethal injection. As a method of effecting capital punishment as the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledges it has been rid with controversies and contradictions about morality from members of the society. The point of contention here is whether the right victim is dying for his/her crimes; primarily because the Florida system of capital punishment is fully ‘broken’. The system is erroneous and cases that almost end up in the ‘chair’ are overturned contrary to the expectations of the family members of the murdered. In the debate leading to conviction of death penalty victims the process is complex and uncertain. Having been in the operations and having handled numerous cases, Kogan believes that the Florida system requires reforms.

Larry from ACLU Legislative Counsel documented that the modes of execution such as the electric chair has recently has been politicized, due to a judicial warning issued recently. Their claim is that the electric chair is ‘gruesome’ and it ought to have their outcries looked into. The public has gone to the extent of demanding the Judiciary to explain why reforms on the ‘electric chair’ option have been looked into. However, the judge’s excuse for the attack on the judiciary is that more judges, including those from Florida, are openly expressing doubts about the effectiveness of capital punishment.

Political interference in the legislations of the death penalty has its roots in the campaigns of various U.S. presidents. For instance in 2000, Bush in his candidacy did not use his desire for execution to get his vote into the Oval office. This went a long way in changing the political games that were being played on citizens. Very few of the aspirants into senate rarely use the pro-death policy to convince their voters. At some point the argument ended in a tussle that the question is “Who is has the right to punish?” and “How much punishment a person deserves?” Unfortunately cases of punishment have been based on vendettas and others as ways to rid of somebody in a competition for a seat or a lucrative venture. Thus, the question as to who punishes and how much one deserves is reserved within the system. Though to the victims, it remains a matter of ethics for as when the hammer ‘falls’ their decisions is ultimately irreversible. As a matter of fact, all the public and the conservationists are crying for is purely a postponement of the death penalties until a review into the option is considered. This is because their hope is in the reserved leaders, who are anticipated, will be joining the high office to push for the citizens’ please to be entrenched in the constitutional.

Radelet (2008) contends on the Florida death penalty system on three occasions; firstly on how the penalty is applied compare to how it was argued six to eight years before. Secondly, the increased support for the penalty by Americans despite decline in its imposition. And finally that the trends exhibited in Florida are synchronized to the ones in the other states and worldwide as a whole. Since 2006, Florida had been relieved of performing the death penalty punishments after its former Governor suspended it due to a case of lethal injection on Angel Diaz. The major disadvantage of the system has been mismanagement of the execution process, mistakes in identification and prosecution of defendants. Other issues that have heightened the controversy include regional disparities, option of Life without Parole, public opinion, guilty pleas, overrides, innocence, race issues, worldwide trends and waiver of jury recommendations As a result in competence in arresting, convicting and punishing the ‘right victim’ has, in other instances led to the actual murderer being let free to do the heinous crimes.

Conclusion

Therefore, recommendation for reforming this system have been provided by a coalition of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, opponents/supporters of death penalty and victim advocates. Although much can be done to restore the Florida capital punishment system, the initial step in solving these problems is adoption of the 20 recommendations; while a moratorium should ensure no more cases of death penalty are practiced until a universal review of the system has been feted with the recommendations.

In relation to the course the concern by both the writers and the general public allows for the rights of criminals to be taken care of. In situations where a victim of death penalty is exonerated of his charges after his death in prison, the system is fully to blame for such occurrences. Therefore, in my opinion I am convinced that moratorium should be opted for in an effort to eliminate recurrence of such cases of ‘mistaken identity’.

Work Cited

Gerald K. (2008). Special to the Times. Rome, St. Petersburg Times.

Radelet, M. L, (2002). Recent Developments in the Death Penalty in Florida. Boulder, Colorado, University of Colorado.