The Debate Over The Death Penalty - 2033 Words

The use of Capital Punishment has always been an issue for which the states must determine the proper use and implementation. Like the other thirty-two states that practice the death penalty, Idaho has its own unique statutes regarding the death penalty, but also like all other states, the statute is constantly under scrutiny through the appeals process death row inmates take part in. Through looking at their current statutes, one can understand this complicated and high profile punishment. It seems that with each person who is executed, a new part of the law is highlighted which may be unfair. The appeals process is lengthy, and because of this, it tends to be an incredibly costly sentence to carry out. With an age in which the media†¦show more content†¦The only crimes, which are eligible for Capital Punishment, are murder in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, and perjury, which results in the death of an innocent person. This statute was changed in 19 73 as a result of the Furman decision to make the death penalty mandatory for a conviction of murder in the first degree to make jury sentencing unnecessary (Office of Performance Evaluations, 2014). According to Idaho Statute 19-2515, Sentencing in Capital Cases outlines the mens rea, which is necessary to seek the death penalty. It states the jury or judge must find that one of the listed aggravating circumstances must be found present for a person to be sentenced to the death penalty: A previous conviction for murder; knowingly committing two murders at the same time; knowingly placing many people at great risk of death; a murder committed for money; an especially â€Å"heinous, atrocious or cruel† murder; a murder which exhibits a disregard for human life, murder in conjunction with attempted/executed arson, rape, robbery, burglary, or kidnapping; murder committed during the commission of a crime against nature (i.e. sexual abuse of a child under sixteen); actions which would indicate a continued threat to society; a murder in which the victim was a law enforcement officer or officer of the court; or a murder in which the victim was the witness of a crime. As with th e finding of guilt, a jury must unanimously find one