Trend Paper- Current Trend in America to End Capitol Punishment - Essay Example

Since then more than 15,000 American citizens have been executed under the death penalty inscribed in its laws and practices, with the first half of the twentieth century marking the period of time in its history, when there was the most prolific use capital punishment (Dieter, 1). The new Millennium has been marked by a rising trend against the use of capital punishment in the laws and practices of America. Drop in execution rates, unwillingness of some states to use capital punishment, and rising exonerations are clear indications of the growing trend in America against capital punishment.

A recent Gallup poll confirms the trend against capital punishment, with support for capital punishment reducing among the general American population to the lowest level in the last thirty years (Sarat & Martschukat, 2). There is a clear rising trend against capital punishment in America. . nt in the American judicial system, it is necessary to evaluate the trend in the attitude of the States and communities that make up the American nation. New Jersey stands out as being the first jurisdiction to remove capital punishment from its judicial system by means of legislative action, in 2006.

A commission was appointed by New Jersey for evaluating its capital punishment system, and the commission by a vast majority recommended the removal of the capital punishment system. In Illinois, in 2000, consequent to a near miscarriage of justice, the Governor banned capital punishment, which still remains in place. Attempts to reinstate death penalty that was overturned in 2004 have been strongly resisted by the New York legislature (Dieter, 3). The scenario across America is almost the same, reflecting a clear indication that the death penalty is no longer popularly acceptable across the country.

In twelve states death penalty finds no place in their statutes. Among the other 38 states the application of death penalty is less than more, with probably the State of Texas remaining the sole staunch supporter of the continued use of capital punishment. With such clear evidence of mounting resistance to capital punishment across America, there can be no argument against the rising trend against the use of capital punishment in America (Revenge begins to seem less sweet). Arguments for the Removal of Capital Punishment The lethal injection used for capital punishment may be a benign manner of bringing an end to the life of an individual through the judicial process.

Yet, many a botched execution, resulting from its use by unqualified personnel or poor management has roused the empathy of the public to the manner in which a condemned man is put to death (Sarat & Martschukat,