death penalty
State-sanctioned killing
The death penalty is execution as legal punishment for a crime, typically murder or treason.
Also called capital punishment.
Debates over the death penalty center on deterrence, morality, and the risk of executing innocent people.
The state abolished the death penalty in 1972.
He faces the death penalty if convicted.
Completing a planned task
- electric chairElectrocution execution device
- gas chamberSealed execution room using poison
- firing squadGroup executing by gunshot
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
gallows · hanging · beheading · scaffold · hangman · cyanide · executioner · straps
Formal discontinuation of practice
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- debateFormal argument on issues
morality · controversy · activism · protest · Amnesty International · innocence · exoneration · DNA evidence
Formal review request
- convictionFirmly held belief
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- trialJudicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
court · judge · jury · prosecution · defense · evidence · testimony · due process
Retaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- comeuppanceDeserved punishment or rebuke
requital · settling scores · closure · satisfaction · proportionality
Confined facility resident
- last mealPre-execution food tradition
- execution dateScheduled time for sentencing
- wardenSupervisory custodian of place
- prisonConfinement for offenders
cell · visitation · chaplain · witnesses · execution chamber · condemned prisoner
Stopping offenses before occurrence
- public safetyCollective welfare from threats
- dissuasionConvincing someone not to
- murder rateKillings per population unit
- criminologyScience of unlawful conduct
effectiveness · recidivism · severity · capital offense · premeditation
execution
Completing a planned task
- electric chairElectrocution execution device
- gas chamberSealed execution room using poison
- firing squadGroup executing by gunshot
guillotine · gallows · hanging · beheading · scaffold · hangman · cyanide · executioner · straps · gurney
abolition
Formal discontinuation of practice
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- human rightsInalienable personal freedoms
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
debate · morality · controversy · activism · protest · Amnesty International · innocence · exoneration · DNA evidence · miscarriage of justice
appeal
Formal review request
- convictionFirmly held belief
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- trialJudicial examination of claims
verdict · court · judge · jury · prosecution · defense · evidence · testimony · due process · clemency
vengeance
Retaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
comeuppance · requital · settling scores · closure · satisfaction · proportionality
inmate
Confined facility resident
- last mealPre-execution food tradition
- execution dateScheduled time for sentencing
- wardenSupervisory custodian of place
prison · cell · visitation · chaplain · witnesses · execution chamber · condemned prisoner
crime prevention
Stopping offenses before occurrence
- public safetyCollective welfare from threats
- dissuasionConvincing someone not to
- murder rateKillings per population unit
criminology · effectiveness · recidivism · severity · capital offense · premeditation
- criminal trialarraignment, defense attorney, courtroom, criminal trial, prosecutor
- legal systemattorney, landmark cases, criminal cases, lawyers, legal precedents
- penologypenology, prisons, incarceration, parole board, prison
- US Lawattorney, lawyer, lawsuit, jury, federal court
- Ancient Greek lawSolon, Solonian reforms, ostracism, lawgiver, legal codes
- controversial practicesabortion, euthanasia, torture, human trafficking, ethnic cleansing
death penaltylife imprisonment
Incarceration until natural death
acquittal · life sentence · pardon · clemency · commutation
death penaltyabolitionism
Movement to end oppression
abolition · moratorium · clemency · life without parole · commutation
death penaltyreprieve
Postponement of punishment
stay of execution · survival · release · second chance · new trial