Answer to 30 Questions #7

 What percentage of Japanese citizens agree with the death penalty?

In Japan, more than 80% of its people agree with the death penalty in their country. Only 9% of them think the system should be entirely abolished in any cases. You can see that a vast majority of Japanese citizens think the death penalty is adequate.

“Poll Reveals More than 80% Support Death Penalty in Japan.” Nippon.com, 4 Feb. 2020, www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00640/poll-reveals-more-than-80-support-death-penalty-in-japan.html.

“Over 80% Accept Death Penalty in Japan as “Inevitable”: Government Poll.” Mainichi Daily News, 18 Jan. 2020, mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200118/p2a/00m/0na/010000c.

I trusted the numbers because they are from the poll officially held by Japanese government. And also it's on the website of Mainichi daily news company, one of the foremost media in Japan.

Answer to 30 Questions #6

How does the use of the death penalty vary around the world?

In Japan, death by hanging has been adopted as a way of the death penalty. But there are other ways in the world. For example, utilizing lethal gas, electricity, and injection can be seen overseas.

“Methods of Execution.” Death Penalty Information Center, 2023, deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/methods-of-execution.

 

Amnesty International. “Death Penalty.” Amnesty International, 2024, www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/death-penalty/.

Death Penalty Information Center, one of the sources I cited from, is a non-profitable-organization. It has been asked for assistance to study issues about executions by the United States house Committee on the Judiciary. I think the fact makes the organization credible. 

Answer to 30 Questions #5

 How many countries currently have the death penalty?

55 countries have continued the death penalty. In 2022, 883 people were executed, and the number increased compared to the one in 2017. However, China, one of them, is inclined to withhold the details about the death penalty in the country, those who got executed in China weren’t counted.

 

BBC. “Death Penalty: How Many Countries Still Have It?” BBC News, 25 Jan. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-45835584.

 

“Executions Soar to Highest Number in Almost a Decade.” Amnesty International, 29 May 2024, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/05/global-executions-soar-highest-number-in-decade/.

Both BBC and Amnesty International, which I adopted as citations, have great authority enough to make their words quite incredible for us. Especially as of the numbers on the latter must be factual  as they were from each country's official announcements.

Answers to 30 Questions #4

 What are the psychological effects on those who carry out the death penalty?

There are significant psychological effects on those who carry out the death penalty, often referred to as executioners or execution teams.

Studies and anecdotal accounts suggest that participating in executions can have a lasting negative impact on mental health.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance can be experienced (Muller, 2014).

Moral Distress: The conflict between duty and personal beliefs can cause significant emotional strain (van den Brink et al., 2010).

Depression, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse: Increased risk of these mental health issues is reported by some execution personnel (Haney, 2003).

Social Isolation: Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships due to the secretive nature of their work (Baldas,2012).

Interestingly, research suggests that involvement in executions can lead to a change in perspective on the death penalty.Many who initially supported capital punishment report opposing it after witnessing the process firsthand (NPR, 2022).

APA: Haney, C. (2003). Mental health consequences of carrying out capital

        punishment. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the 

       Law, 31(2), 197-204.

Answers to 30 Questions #3

 What is the history of the death penalty?

The death penalty has a long and complex history, dating back to ancient civilizations.

Ancient Civilizations: Capital punishment was used for a variety of crimes in societies like Mesopotamia, Egypt,Greece, and Rome (Zimring & Hawkins, 2006). Methods varied, including stoning, beheading, and crucifixion.

Middle Ages: Executions remained common throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, often overseen by religious authorities. Crimes like heresy and witchcraft were often punishable by death (Evans, 1987)

Enlightenment Era: Philosophers like Beccaria and Montesquieu questioned the morality and effectiveness of the death penalty during the Enlightenment (18th century). This led to some reforms and reductions in capital punishment.(Bedau, 1982)

Modern Era: The death penalty has continued to be used throughout the modern era, with variations in its application and justifications. The United States, for example, reinstated capital punishment in most states after the Furman v.Georgia (1972) Supreme Court decision.

APA: Bedau, H. A. (1982). The death penalty in America (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Answers to 30 Questions #2

 Are there any campaigns against the death penalty?

There are numerous campaigns actively working against the death penalty. These are just a few examples, and many other organizations and individuals work tirelessly against the death penalty. 

Amnesty International: This human rights organization has a long history of opposing the death penalty, advocating for its abolition worldwide. They provide resources, conduct research, and raise awareness about the flaws of capital punishment.

The Death Penalty Information Center: This non-profit organization is a leading source of information on the death penalty in the United States. They publish research reports, track executions, and advocate for reform.

Sister Helen Prejean: A Catholic nun and longtime anti-death penalty activist, Sister Prejean is known for her book "Dead Man Walking" and her work advocating for death row inmates.

You can find more information by searching online using keywords like "death penalty abolition campaigns."

APA: Amnesty International. (2024, July 9). Death Penalty - Amnesty

       International.

       Death Penalty Information Center. (2024, July 1). Death Penalty

       Information Center.

       Ministry Against Death Penalty. (2024, June 18). Sister Helen Prejean | Talking about life, justice & the death penalty. Sister Helen Prejean.

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Answer to 30 Questions #1

 Is life imprisonment painful enough to replace the death penalty with?

Whether life imprisonment is "painful enough" to replace the death penalty is a complex issue with no easy answer. It depends on your perspective on punishment and justice.

Life imprisonment is undoubtedly a severe punishment with significant psychological consequences (Haney, 2003; Toch,2005).

Loss of Freedom: Daily routines, movement, and social interaction are severely restricted. (Haney, 2003)

Severed Relationships: Maintaining strong connections with loved ones is difficult. (Liebling & Maruna, 2005)

Loss of Identity: Prisoners struggle with a sense of lost purpose outside of their crime. (Giordano, Cernkovich, & Rudolph, 2002)

Psychological Toll: Isolation, lack of control, and violence can lead to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. (Irwin, 2018)

Indeterminacy: Life sentences with little chance of parole leave many with no hope for release. (Mauer, 2019)

APA: Clear, T. R. (2017). Imprisonment and crime control. Routledge.