NCJ Number
101153
Date Published
1984
Length
30 pages
Annotation
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argues that the death penalty inherently violates the constitutional bans against cruel and unusual punishment and against deprivation of due process and equal protection guarantees.
Abstract
Imposition of the death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental values of a democratic society. The state should not arrogate unto itself the right to kill human beings, particularly when it proposes to do so with premeditation and ceremony and in an egregiously arbitrary and discriminatory fashion. In the judgment of the ACLU, capital punishment is an intolerable denial of civil liberties. Further, arguments for capital punishment based on deterrence and cost-effectiveness rationales are not supported by facts. Court decisions and much public opinion not withstanding, many countries have forbidden the death penalty by law or abandoned it in practice. The unmistakable trend is toward the complete abolition of this barbarous and inhumane practice. List of information resources and 52 references. (Author abstract modified)