Development

= Development = **What is capital punishment?** Capital punishment is an “execution as a punishment for a person convicted of committing a crime”, and usually the felon is put to death using various method of executions (MSN Encarta, 2009, para. 1 ).

=History of Execution Technologies = =  = Dating back to the **Medieval Times,** there were many methods of executions. Some of the devices used in this **era** was the **[|Iron Maiden]** which is comprised of spikes, nails or knifes that were used to slowly pierce into a persons flesh. It would take approximately two days for a person to die using this device. The __**Pear**__ was also an instrument used in these times. It was forced into the mouth or rectum of male victims and into the vagina of female victims who were accused of adultery. sodomy or incest this was done until death finally occurred **(**Wikipedia, 2009**).**

The __[|Guillotine] __ **was named after Dr. Joseph Guillotine** who proposed that capital punishment should be inflicted as fast and painless as possible and should be equal for all classes not just the rich. This method of execution took only a split second and some family members who could afford to, would pay money to the executioners to make sure the 88.2 lb blade was sharp enough to decapitate the prisoner in one try **(**Bellis, n.d. **). **

In the United States there were various methods of execution, the first began with the public **hanging of a convicted murderer, John Carr in November 30, 1860.** Ironically, executions were sought events during these times. Fighting and pushing would occur by spectators wanting to get the best view of the person being executed.

The last public execution was the hanging held in **Kentucky in 1936** of convicted murder Rainey Bethea, with 20,000 spectators, one witness stated, “ It was like a boxer coming into a ring with people cheering on." The widow of the convicted would be cursed and spit on while she watched her husbands death which took an average of 20 minutes. (NR__<span style="color: #2200cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> [| last public execution in America] ). __

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 * __<span class="wiki_link_ext"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">[|Electric chair] __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;"> was invented in 1888 in New York by Harold P. Brown, as a more humane method of execution than hanging. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">William Kemmler of Buffalo, New York was a convicted murderer and the **first person** to be **executed** in 1890 using an **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">electric chair. 500 to 2000 volts were administered through the body taking roughly 87 seconds to die. The state of Florida still uses this method of execution (Death Penalty Information Center, n.d.). **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">[|Gas chamber] **was invented in 1921 by Delos A. Turner** and was first used in 1924 on a Chinese born convicted murder Gee Jong. In the chamber the prisoner sits in a chair which is filled with <span class="wiki_link_ext"> a poisonous gas that is inhaled by the prisoner, causing extreme pain lasting for several minutes. The sensation is similar to a person having a heart attack and being deprived of oxygen and takes an average of 9.3 minutes to die **(** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">D.P.I.C., n.d. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">). ** **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[|Lethal injection] __** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The lethal injection was introduced in 1977 as a more humane method then the electric chair which consists of three injections put into the convicted persons veins. The first **numbs the pain nerves, the second depresses the brain activity, and the third stops the heart. This may be considered a more advanced medical form of execution.** Florida is one of the five states which still uses the lethal injection **(** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">D.P.I.C., n.d. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">). **