Is the Death Penalty Humane?

In a trial involving the death penalty there are some things the defendant can do to prove their innocence. They are allowed to present evidence proving their innocence and if they are convicted of the crime, they can file for an appeal to show that a vital mistake was made in the trial. If there is any new evidence that surfaces after the trial, it can be presented, but there is a catch, some states only allow three weeks for new evidence to be submitted. It is true that there are a few things a man can do in court to defend himself, but I don’t think it is enough to ensure that only the guilty are convicted. States that limit new evidence up to three weeks after the trial seem to want to just put somebody to death to ease the people rather than find the true criminal. I have heard that often times a criminal’s appeal is denied, which means that there is no chance of proving the court made a mistake during the trial. If the evidence is somewhat incriminating and makes it possible for the defendant to have done the crime, then there is really no hope. I know that there are innocent people in jail, just recently a woman was released because it turns out she did not commit the murder she was charged for. I am sure that there are people who are innocent on death row this very second as well as innocent that have already been put to death.

There are many methods of executions. The first I will talk about is hanging. There is a specific method to ensure an instant death. However, “instantaneous death rarely occurs” (Weisberg, 1991). If there is the slightest mistake the victim will slowly asphyxiate and die. It is a gruesome sight, eyes pop, face bloats, tongue protrudes, the body defecates, and the body makes violent jerking action. Hanging is usually a slow death and making a person suffer like that regardless of what they have done is inhumane. Another method is death by firing squad. The inmate dies as result of blood loss from a direct shot to the heart. This is inhumane because it is a slow and painful death not to mention the agony the inmate must feel if one of the shooters misses. Death by electrocution is possibly one of the worst methods. The victim is strapped to a chair and literally shocked for thirty seconds; if he survives he receives another thirty. The body is burnt, hot enough to cause blisters if touched, and similar effects to those of hanging. Many states have declared it cruel and unusual punishment.