Dear Editor,
In our western world, apprehension by the law and conviction of a crime is usually followed by punishment as dictated by the court. Punishment can be as little as public service or imprisonment or, in the worst of crimes, capital punishment.
Capital punishment in recent years has elicited wide publicity regarding the method of execution. How swift should death be? How should it be administered? The options are legion.
I have my own opinions, based on the observable fact that some punishments are conducted out of the public eye, sometimes years after the commission of the crime. Such punishments are viewed by the public, f at all, as only remotely related to the original crime and of little importance to the world of crime as it affects, or is seen in our private lives.
I think three areas are worthy of study:
1. The framers of our Constitution called for “speedy and public trial”. I propose setting a limit to the time allotted for preparation for trial and, in the case of conviction, a limit to the time allotted for appeals.
2. Historically, capital punishment was administered by “hanging by the neck until dead.” Only recently has there been concern that this and other forms of execution might subject the condemned to pain in his final moments. I maintain that death is death. Concern for any pain that might be suffered by the condemned is just short of humorous.
3. I feel we should make the most of a fate of death and execute the condemned in a way to publicize the connection between crime and punishment. Let us return to the practice of public execution by hanging.
Sincerely,
James Pursell
Owego, N.Y.
