A map showing the use of the death penalty in the United States by individual states. Red represents states with a valid death penalty statute. Blue represents states without the death penalty. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Urutine32 |
The Death PenaltyCapital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is the execution of a person as punishment for a crime against the state. Crimes for which one is sentenced to die are often referred to as capital offenses.
While the death penalty is almost always used exclusively for the crime of murder, some states have expanded its scope by legislating the use of capital punishment for certain cases of rape against women and children. Others have abolished the death penalty altogether. As of 2016, thirty-one US states use capital punishment for capital crimes such as murder, terrorism, and other crimes resulting in death. -Gale Student Resources in Context |
Words to Know
Sources of Information
"Capital Punishment"
222 to 2,820 words
(available at 3 different reading levels)
(available at 3 different reading levels)
Source Type:
Encyclopedia Article
Encyclopedia Article
Source Citation:
"Capital punishment." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 27 May. 2014. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/capital-punishment/20149. Accessed 12 May. 2017.
"Capital punishment." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 27 May. 2014. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/capital-punishment/20149. Accessed 12 May. 2017.
"Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?"549 words
Source Type:
Newspaper Article Source Citation:
Rust-Tierney, Diann, and Joshua Marquis. "Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished? The Supreme Court Has Increasingly Restricted the Use of Capital Punishment." New York Times Upfront, 7 Oct. 2013, p. 22. Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A347001648/SUIC?u=nysl_ce_cazehs&xid=a1724150. Accessed 12 May 2017. |
"To Kill or Not to Kill?"1,331 words*
Source Type:
Newspaper Article Source Citation:
Smith, Patricia. "To kill or not to kill?" New York Times Upfront, 17 Nov. 2014, p. 8+. Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A390869393/SUIC?u=nysl_ce_cazehs&xid=a776bf4a. Accessed 12 May 2017. |