Criminal Justice Essay

Should be three (3) pages long in addition to a Title Page and Reference page. They must also include at least five (5) or more References/sources. 

The Death Penalty – The death penalty has always been a highly controversial issue in the correctional system. Passionate views fill the spectrum from one end to the other. For this paper though, the foundation of the research and recommendations must be based upon a balanced approach to the topic review and on the evidence developed in the literature and case law. One final consideration is that not every state has an enforceable death penalty statute as there are states where the death penalty is either illegal or has been found unconstitutional based upon statute and legislation has not been passed to make the death penalty legal (e.g., New York). At last count 31 states had the death penalty in place (https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/states-and-without-death-penalty (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.) at the time of this writing. Therefore your research should only use a state where the death penalty is in force and being used. Use of a state which does not enforce the death penalty is moot. Based upon these requirements, develop a case study on a specific death sentence case either where the case is pending or an execution has already been carried out. 

For this exercise you must: (1) provide a case summary, (2) discuss the offender’s background, history, and involvement in the crime, (3) discuss the victim(s) involved and the impact this had not only for the decedent, but also family, friends, and the like, (4) include the Penal Law crime(s) which was / were violated and the state/federal legal requirement for the death penalty in the case selected, (5) based upon the evidence presented at court, the specific circumstances and heinous nature of the crime convicted, the victim impact, and the prevailing law, make a determination and recommendation if the convicted offender should receive the death penalty or be given a more appropriate sentence.  

Review the Following Materials for This Assignment:
List of Death Row Inmates in the United States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_death_row_inmates_in_the_United_States (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.)
2015 Death Penalty Case Reduced to Life in Prison Based Upon Legal Issue (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2943234/Ex-solider-35-regularly-beat-five-year-old-daughter-jailed-life-killing-final-attack-brutal-left-knuckle-imprints-chest.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.)
1998 Death Penalty Avoided Because Defendant Was a Juvenile at the Time of the Incident (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2942766/Robbie-Middleton-suffered-horrific-burns-names-rapist-attacker-video.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.)
Gary Gilmore Death Penalty Case Legal Issues (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gilmore (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.)
Review the Frontline video “Solitary Nation” (http://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-solitary-nation-show/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.)