Death Penalty in New York State Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Death Penalty in parvenue York State - Research musical composition ExampleGeorge Kendall is documented as being the first man to be officially put to remainder in colonized America by the state in 1608. Since then over 20,000 accused criminals excite been executed in America for a variety of offenses ranging from murder to property crimes. The inclination of jurists to award the close punishment almost at will in the early(a) part of American history was part influenced by the lack of penitentiaries and an organized prison system. Execution was seen as the primary method to protect association from subversive and anti-social elements. Capital punishment was also employed as a means to control the buckle down population and many disproportionate capital sentences were imposed on slaves of African descent when the same would non have applied to Caucasians. In New York attempted murder or rape were capital crimes yet when committed by slaves (Acker, 2003). The resolution o f New York was originally under the control of the Dutch albeit without any pro forma legal system. The goal penalty was practiced and manageed in an arbitrary and reckless manner in those early days. It was often the case that when the culprit could not be identified, the accused would have to draw lots in order to determine who would be executed. The arrival of the British to New York saw the implementation of a penal code, where the death penalty was still a frequently awarded punishment. In 1741, 18 white colonials and 13 slaves were sentenced to death by burning at the stake. However, the new British legal system also contained a mercifulness clause. An individual on death row was eligible for a pardon if they agreed to leave the colony or chose to enlist in the armed forces. As a result of this provision during the 18th atomic number 6 51% of individuals sentenced to death in New York were eventually pardoned (Heller, 2008). The death penalty statute continued to moderni se after the formation of the United States of America and the subsequent imposition of its new legal system. In 1888, The New York State Assembly passed a statute which would see it become the first state to directly administer the death penalty. According to the statute the death penalty was mandatory for extremely grave and depraved offences. The legal philosophy also called for a new method of execution, which was death by electricity. William Kemmler became the first man to be executed by means of electric chair, in 1890. Up until the 1930s the State of New York was liable for more executions than any other state. During this period state statutes were amended in order to encompass a wider array of crimes that could be punishable by death. The most significant of these was kidnapping, influenced greatly by the Lindbergh baby saga which dominate headlines during this period. Due to these amendments juries were also instructed to give sentencing recommendations in trials where the convicted were eligible for capital punishment (Heller, 2008). Rise of Abolitionist reason Throughout the colonial era and up until the mid 20th century voices that were opposed to the death penalty slowly began to grow in strength. By the 18th century many Americans had begun to head the application of the death penalty for crimes that were petty and trivial in nature. Dissenting voices could also be comprehend in