Capital Punishment (12)

Question 1

Juries would not convict

Answer 1

1. In 1700, only 40% of those convicted of capital crimes were hung.
2. By 1800, only 10% were hung, despite increase in crime overall
3. Criminals felt confident of escaping punishment
4. Bloody Code was undermining the law.

Question 2

Ideas about punishment were changing:

Answer 2

1. Throughout C18th growing sense among philosophers that punishments were too brutal.
2. Politicians were starting to look for alternative ways to punish
3. By 1780s, transportation had emerged as the main alternative.

Question 3

Public Executions:

Answer 3

1. During the 1700s, the crowds at execution grew larger, publicised through newspapers
2. As crowds grew, harder to keep control
3. Danger of the criminal escaping if the crowd was sympathetic to them.
4. Risk of riots if the offender had been sentenced to death for minor crimes.

Question 4

High Profile Cases:

Answer 4

1. Derek Bentley
2. Despite not firing the fatal shot, he was hung on 28 January 1953
3. Huge public outcry
4. Many people believed it was a miscarriage of justice.
5. Made the law look cruel and caused people to doubt the morality of capital punishment.