capital punishment

execution

Completing a planned task

• lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
• electric chairElectrocution execution device
• gas chamberSealed execution room using poison

firing squad · hanging · guillotine · executioner · death chamber · last meal · final statement · gurney · sedative · lethal dose

morality

Right and wrong principles

• conscienceInternal moral sense
• sanctity of lifePrinciple that existence is sacred
• mercyCompassion toward offenders

compassion · cruelty · redemption · atonement · forgiveness · vengeance · justice · righteousness · humanity · dignity

judiciary

Law-interpreting government branch

• verdictOfficial court decision
• sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
• convictionFirmly held belief

adjudication · tribunal · courtroom · prosecution · judge · jury · due process · appeal · death row · sentencing

controversy

Prolonged public disagreement

• abolitionFormal discontinuation of practice
• human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
• activismDirect effort for reform

protest · clemency · appeal · constitutionality · public opinion · moratorium · reform · legislation · lobbying · campaigns

crime prevention

Stopping offenses before occurrence

• recidivismHabitual return to crime
• dissuasionConvincing someone not to
• fearEmotional response to threat

retribution · sanction · punitive · consequence · rational choice · forewarning · intimidation · preventive · severity · certainty

• death lawdeath certificate, death certificates, death tax, death benefits, death row
• political controversiesabortion, gun control, voter suppression, gerrymandering, affirmative action
• punishment historyexecution, beheading, hanging, torture, imprisonment
• Islamic Lawsharia, Sharia, Shariah, Islamic law, fatwa
• Torah lawsTen Commandments, Sabbath observance, kosher laws, dietary laws, tefillin
• criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime