Constitutional, philosophical and historical perspectives of the capital punishment debate in Australia and the United States Cover Image

Perspective constituţionale, filosofice şi istorice privind dezbaterea pedepsei capitale în Australia şi Statele Unite ale Americii
Constitutional, philosophical and historical perspectives of the capital punishment debate in Australia and the United States

Author(s): A. Keith Thompson, Gabriel A. Moens
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence
Published by: Editura Universităţii George Bacovia din Bacău România
Keywords: death penalty; life imprisonment; cruel; inhuman and unusual punishment; discriminatory penalty; reciprocity; proportionality

Summary/Abstract: Capital punishment has been abolished in all Australian States. However, public demands for the reintroduction of the death penalty continue to be heard intermittently in Australia, especially after a gruesome murder or other atrocity. A discussion of the appropriateness and desirability (as opposed to the legality or illegality) of the death penalty is never completely removed from the Australian and American political agenda. An objective observer cannot fail to notice that, in general, such discussion is often carried on by people who have preconceived and inflexible views. An inevitable result is the polarisation of the capital punishment debate. In these circumstances, an insistence on cogent reasoning is clearly warranted.

  • Issue Year: I/2012
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 5-35
  • Page Count: 31
  • Language: English
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