Unit 21Unit 21

The DeathThe Death PenaltyPenalty

Learning outcomes of the Unit 21

Students will be able to:Students will be able to:

1.1. describe describe the situation the situation concerning concerning death penalty in the USAdeath penalty in the USA

2.2. explain explain the development in the UK concerning death the development in the UK concerning death penaltypenalty

3.3. nname the main points from the speech of Lord Kennet and ame the main points from the speech of Lord Kennet and elaborate on themelaborate on them

4.4. ttranslate key expressions related to the topicranslate key expressions related to the topic

5.5. nname institutions and documents in Europe that support ame institutions and documents in Europe that support the abolition of death penalty the abolition of death penalty

6.6. qquote the provisions of the Croatian Constitution related to uote the provisions of the Croatian Constitution related to capital punishmentcapital punishment

INTRODUCTORY DISCUSSIONINTRODUCTORY DISCUSSIONWhose memoir is theWhose memoir is the following following

citation from?citation from?

In his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," In his memoir, "Dreams from My Father," ____________________ wrote that while the death wrote that while the death penalty penalty "does little to deter crime,""does little to deter crime," he he supports capital punishment in cases supports capital punishment in cases "so "so heinous, so beyond the pale, that the heinous, so beyond the pale, that the community is justified in expressing the full community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage by memeasure of its outrage by meeeting out the ting out the ultimate punishment."ultimate punishment."

Asked about today's US Supreme Court ruling that Asked about today's US Supreme Court ruling that sentencing someone to death for raping a child sentencing someone to death for raping a child is unconstitutional, Obama said he disagreed is unconstitutional, Obama said he disagreed with such a broad ban. with such a broad ban.

"I have said repeatedly that I think that the death "I have said repeatedly that I think that the death penalty should be applied in very narrow penalty should be applied in very narrow circumstances for the most egregious of crimes. circumstances for the most egregious of crimes. I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime,"old, is a heinous crime," he said, adding that if a he said, adding that if a state determines the death penalty should apply state determines the death penalty should apply in such cases, they should be allowed to impose in such cases, they should be allowed to impose it.it.

Obama has tried to toe a nuanced line on the death Obama has tried to toe a nuanced line on the death penalty, saying it should only be used in extreme penalty, saying it should only be used in extreme cases. cases.

In the In the IllinoisIllinois legislature legislature, he pushed reforms to the , he pushed reforms to the state's capital punishment system to prevent state's capital punishment system to prevent innocent people from being executed. The innocent people from being executed. The reforms, after a series of exonerations through reforms, after a series of exonerations through DNA and other evidence, included requiring DNA and other evidence, included requiring police to videotape interrogations to prevent police to videotape interrogations to prevent coerced confessions.coerced confessions. Obama also opposed a bill Obama also opposed a bill to make it easier to sentence murderers involved to make it easier to sentence murderers involved in gang activity to get the death penalty.in gang activity to get the death penalty.

But he supported death sentences for particularly But he supported death sentences for particularly cruel murders of elderly people.cruel murders of elderly people.

Geographical position of Illinois within the Geographical position of Illinois within the USAUSA

What a picture of the USA?What a picture of the USA?

Pair workPair work

DiscussDiscuss with your neighbourwith your neighbour the attitudes of the attitudes of the American President on death penalty the American President on death penalty and /or the death penalty status in the and /or the death penalty status in the USA in 2001 (the map) and USA in 2001 (the map) and sum upsum up your your conclusionsconclusions in 3 – 5 written sentences. in 3 – 5 written sentences.

Further research… use the following link:Further research… use the following link:http://uspolitics.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=uspolitics&cdn=newsissues&tm=170&gps=3http://uspolitics.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=uspolitics&cdn=newsissues&tm=170&gps=330_234_788_360&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=15&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//30_234_788_360&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=15&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/CoC.pdf www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/CoC.pdf

Have a look at the information from the Have a look at the information from the following documentfollowing document

Capital punishment in the UKCapital punishment in the UK

The death penalty remained The death penalty remained on the statute book on the statute book until 1998until 1998

Capital punishment abolished Capital punishment abolished for murder in 1969for murder in 1969

in Great Britain in Great Britain ((The Murder, Abolition of Death The Murder, Abolition of Death Penalty, Act in 1965 → d.p. suspended in England, Penalty, Act in 1965 → d.p. suspended in England, Wales and Scotland), Wales and Scotland), uunitil 1973 in Northern nitil 1973 in Northern Ireland Ireland

Situation in the UK 1969 - 1998Situation in the UK 1969 - 1998

Death penalty survived for other crimes:Death penalty survived for other crimes:- Causing fire or explosion in a navel dodkyard, ship, Causing fire or explosion in a navel dodkyard, ship,

warehouse (until 1971)warehouse (until 1971)- Espionage (until 1981)Espionage (until 1981)- Piracy with violence (until 1998)Piracy with violence (until 1998)- Treason (until 1998)Treason (until 1998)- Certain military ofences, e.g. mutiny (until 1998)Certain military ofences, e.g. mutiny (until 1998)

NO EXECUTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE UK FOR NO EXECUTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE UK FOR ANY OF THESE OFENNCES AFTER THE ABOLITION ANY OF THESE OFENNCES AFTER THE ABOLITION FOR DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDERFOR DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER

From a speech in the House of LordsFrom a speech in the House of Lordsby Lord Kennetby Lord Kennet

INTRODUCTION: What ought to be done toINTRODUCTION: What ought to be done to

a a convicted murdererconvicted murderer??

THE MOTIVE FOR THE DISCUSSION:THE MOTIVE FOR THE DISCUSSION:

“ “We have to do something more with him We have to do something more with him than to punish him...”than to punish him...”

FIVE verbs = suggestions: FIVE verbs = suggestions: Read the text, textbook, p. 97. Read the text, textbook, p. 97.

Formulte the main idea L. Kennet Formulte the main idea L. Kennet presented for each of the five suggestions!presented for each of the five suggestions!

1.1. To preventTo prevent

2.2. To reform / “rehabilitate”To reform / “rehabilitate”

3.3. To researchTo research

4.4. To deterTo deter

5.5. To avengeTo avenge

Expressions from the Unit 21Expressions from the Unit 21- to try / to convict a murdererto try / to convict a murderer- to punish to punish be punished be punished - the punishment for .... isthe punishment for .... is- what ought to be done to a convicted murderer..what ought to be done to a convicted murderer..- prevent somebody prevent somebody fromfrom doing something doing something- the prevention the prevention ofof crime / terrorism crime / terrorism - somebody’s release at the end of a life sentencesomebody’s release at the end of a life sentence- somebody is likely to do something somebody is likely to do something - the released murderer is no more likely to murder the released murderer is no more likely to murder

than anybody elsethan anybody else- the length of a sentence / of the service of a prisonerthe length of a sentence / of the service of a prisoner

Expressions – part IIExpressions – part II- to help a person to help a person withwith something something- the lack of funds the lack of funds - to achieve more / lessto achieve more / less- to inflict punishment to inflict punishment - to conduct research into (causes/motives of crime...)to conduct research into (causes/motives of crime...)- to commit capital murder in cold blood on purpose to commit capital murder in cold blood on purpose - during the prison sentenceduring the prison sentence- measures that would reduce the murder ratemeasures that would reduce the murder rate- the capital penalty is not an effective deterrent...the capital penalty is not an effective deterrent...- abolitionists of abolitionists of retentionist of the death penalty retentionist of the death penalty- the state deals with / handles convicted criminalsthe state deals with / handles convicted criminals

To be To be reprievedreprieved

pomilovati – pomilovanjepomilovati – pomilovanje

to reprieve, v. /ripri:v/to reprieve, v. /ripri:v/

A person waiting to be hanged for the murder A person waiting to be hanged for the murder has been reprievedhas been reprieved. .

Reprieve, n. /ripri:v/Reprieve, n. /ripri:v/

A man awaiting death by lethal injection has A man awaiting death by lethal injection has been saved by a last minute been saved by a last minute reprievereprieve. .

Complete the following sentences.Complete the following sentences.

1.1. Use precautionary measures to keep something from Use precautionary measures to keep something from happening means __ ___________ something.happening means __ ___________ something.

2.2. A sentence of imprisonment for the remaining A sentence of imprisonment for the remaining portion of the convict’s life is ________ ________.portion of the convict’s life is ________ ________.

3.3. __ _________ means to prevent from acting by__ _________ means to prevent from acting by fear; to discourage.fear; to discourage.

4.4. People who vote for the abolition of the death penalty are People who vote for the abolition of the death penalty are ______________.______________.

5.5. A sentence ordering a criminal to be executed is calledA sentence ordering a criminal to be executed is called _____________._____________.

KEY: sentences.KEY: sentences.

1.1. Use precautionary measures to keep something from Use precautionary measures to keep something from happening means happening means to preventto prevent something. something.

2.2. A sentence of imprisonment for the remaining A sentence of imprisonment for the remaining portion of the convict’s life is portion of the convict’s life is life sentencelife sentence..

3.3. To deterTo deter means to prevent from acting by means to prevent from acting by fear; to discourage.fear; to discourage.

4.4. People who vote for the abolition of the death penalty are People who vote for the abolition of the death penalty are abolitionistsabolitionists..

5.5. A sentence ordering a criminal to be executed is calledA sentence ordering a criminal to be executed is called death penaltydeath penalty..

Have a look at the additional reading in your Have a look at the additional reading in your book, p. 101 - 102book, p. 101 - 102

1.1. Which documents are mentioned?Which documents are mentioned?

2.2. What is the approacht to the death What is the approacht to the death penalty in Europe? Explain.penalty in Europe? Explain.

3.3. What is the basis for Croatia’s approach What is the basis for Croatia’s approach to the death penalty question?to the death penalty question?