So this isn't really current news, but since we talked about capital punishment today in class, I think this can apply.
Like everyone else, I believed the fact that the U.S. was one of few countries that still had the death penalty as a means of punishment in their judicial system. A few months ago, I came across this article:
http://news.yahoo.com/japan-executes-first-prisoners-since-2010-134722700.html
My first reaction was WTF? Japan? Really? According to the article, Japan carries out executions by hanging (only two states still have hanging as an option), the condemned are kept in solitary confinement for years before their execution, and their families are informed of their deaths after the fact.
Another surprise was the overwhelming support for the death penalty in Japan, which was 85%. Only 51% of death-penalty-happy Texans support their death penalty rules!
Of course, other countries aren't too supportive of Japan's death penalty, like they don't support ours.
You learn something new every day.
More links:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/9448640/Japan-condemned-over-executions.html
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120609f1.html
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-dept-criminal-justice/death-penalty/uttt-poll-life-and-death/
Wow, that's crazy that Japan's approval rate for the death penalty is so high! This post was really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI guess I hadn't really given much thought to the death penalty....not very humanitarian of me but mostly I've not had the time or the reason to study it. If I had to guess I wouldn't have been so surprised to know that they had the death penalty but I was surprised to know that 85% of the people supported it! Wow! I guess you really do learn something new everyday! I suppose in some ways it does save money and puts an end to the possibility that a dangerous individual might get out and harm someone else. My question is: For what crimes can the death penalty be given in Japan?
ReplyDeleteThey usually give the death penalty for people who have murdered multiple times. Some of them have only killed once, but apparently the murder was extreme and/or heinous enough to warrant executing them. Some of them were not originally sentenced to be executed, but they killed while on parole.
DeleteWell, I guess it serves to remind us that the world has to have an effective means to deal with individuals who place no value on a human life. It may not be popular but I'm sorry to say that I think there's a need for the death penalty!
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting who would have thought that the approval was so high. I also agree with Wendy I think that in some situations there is a need for the death penalty.
ReplyDeleteWell, looks like Texas fails again... I wonder how many are executed in Japan on an annual basis and what crimes are death penalty eligible? Time for some research.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that there were still hangings occurring as a form of execution. It seems so medieval... but then again, I do feel that the death penalty is medieval. I guess I have read too many John Grisham books about innocent people who have been executed. I used to be 100% supportive, but now... it just seems impossible to be completely sure of someone's guilt, unless it is actually seen (for example, with the shootings in Colorado a few months ago.)
ReplyDeleteI am definitely shocked to see that 85% of the population in Japan is supportive, while only 51% in Texas are!