Various Influences on the Development of Social Policies - Term Paper Example

Various influences on the development of social policies Introduction Death penalty or capital punishment is a controversial issue in the United States and in most of the world. Capital punishment is given to person or individual who committed murder, rape and others. Arguments for and against it are based on moral, practical, religious, and emotional grounds. In United States the legal administration of it is complex it involves four critical steps: 1. Sentencing 2. Direct Review, 3. State Collateral Review 4. Federal Habeas Corpus. (www.aclu.org). The development of social policies in death penalty is said to be influence by public opinion, the media, political parties, and interest groups. How it is influence will be discuss in the next pages. The first established death penalty laws date as far back as the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammaurabi of Babylon, which codified the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also part of the Fourteenth Century B.C.'s Hittite Code; in the Seventh Century B.C.'s Draconian Code of Athens, which made death the only punishment for all crimes; and in the Fifth Century B.C.'s Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets. Death sentences were carried out by such means as crucifixion, drowning, beating to death, burning alive, and impalement. (Randa, 1997). Britain influenced America the use of death penalty. When European settlers came to the new world, they brought the practice of capital punishment. The first recorded execution in the new colonies was that of Captain George Kendall in the Jamestown colony of Virginia in 1608. Kendall was executed for being a spy for Spain. In 1612, Virginia Governor Sir Thomas Dale enacted the Divine, Moral and Martial Laws, which provided the death penalty for even minor offenses such as stealing grapes, killing chickens, and trading with Indians. Laws regarding the death penalty varied from colony to colony. The Massachusetts Bay Colony held its first execution in 1630, even though the Capital Laws of New England did not go into effect until years later. The New York Colony instituted the Duke's Laws of 1665. Under these laws, offenses such as striking one's mother or father, or denying the "true God," were punishable by death. (Randa, 1997). Media Influence Media is a powerful source of information. There are cases wherein cases are being trial publicly thru media. This has influenced the development of policy in death penalty. Before death penalty execution are being seen by people thru television. After that incident a lot of people reacted differently, some agrees and some think that it is unhuman. Because of what they have seen on tv it has lead the people to contradict the idea of death penalty causing the government to revise the policies involving death penalty to avoid the reactions of the people. When the death penalty was first carried out again in 1993 in Japan, the Yomiuri Newspaper reported this news on the front page of its morning edition. There was also extensive TV coverage in the morning news. By evening, many other newspapers also picked up the story. For a while - right after this happened -- the media immediately covered all executions, and brought up discussions about the death penalty whenever an execution took place. However, in the last several years, such news has become daily fare, and the public's interest has been languishing. Now, newspapers just report announcements or summarize what happened in just a few lines. (Masanori, 2004). The government in America feels that it would lead to a deeper discussion if they would televise every execution done, so they decided not to do this again and revise the policies in death penalty. Information campaigns are also being done by the government to clearly explain the process of death penalty. Some organization feels that there is no need to implement death penalty to reduce crime rate, they feel that proper approach and information would lead to a better nation. The Influence of Public Opinion The American government feels pressure of the public reaction toward death penalty . In October 2007 the survey done by Gallup polls it shows that 69% of Americans are in favour for the death penalty. This also influenced the government to strengthen the death penalty to criminals and murderers. However, the public is asking for a stricter screening of their offence. There are cases in the past wherein a person was being convicted and subjected to death penalty and was later proven not guilty. The reaction of the public is important in the development of the social policies of the death penalty. Survery's and researches are being done to evaluate the reactions and the opinions of the people. As of April 1, 2008, the Death Penalty was authorized by 37 states, the Federal Government, and the U.S. Military. Those jurisdictions without the Death Penalty include 13 states and the District of Columbia. (Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin). (www.clarkprosecutor.org). The Influence of Political Parties In the article written by El Quali ( 2008), he described how political parties influenced the death penalty during the review of abolishing it. In Cassablanca the Moroccan ruling and political establishment continue to give conflicting signals about the future of the death penalty, leaving human rights activists now convinced that a behind the scenes decisions has been made to keep the death penalty on the stature books for the foreseeable future. The Socialist Coalition group first release that they are abstaining on abolishing death penalty. Days after the announcement the President of the Socialist Coalition group announces that they are supporting the death penalty. According to some the conflicting position of the same group is because of the influence of the King of Morrocco. Clearly this shows how the death penalty in a certain nation was being influenced by the political parties. In USA political groups are also having different views on death penalty. There groups who feel that death penalty is a tool to a better America, while others think that it is a violation of human right. Conclusion Media, political parties and public opinions has shown great influenced on death penalty. The decision of each state and nation depends on the surveys and researches done by designated people. Media greatly affect the decision on death penalty for it can penetrate the television. This medium can be viewed by millions of people worldwide and can greatly influence and convince the people on its stand. Political parties' decision will depend on the parties' decision; however there are cases that they don't agree on the decision. Thru survey death penalty has shown increase awareness. Before, death penalty are not that controversial but because of the increasing number of researches that some are being sent to death penalty wrongly many groups is now on the look out. Human right activist, concern groups and others are conducting rallies to abolish death penalty in US. These influences in the development of social policies in death penalty would really have a great difference in the future. Reference: Masanori, Y. , October 2004 , Death Penalty and the Media http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfmItemID=6368 Public Opinion Polls, Gallup Polls, http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/opinion.htm Randa, L. 1997 Society's Final Solution: A History and Discussion of the Death Penalty," University Press of America http://www.aclu.org/capital/facts/10602res20070409.html http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.phpscid=15&did=411 El Quali, A., 1997 DEATH PENALTY-MOROCCO: Abolitionists Resigned To Long Wait Read More