For what are people sentenced to death for?

Question

Is it only murder? Or what else gets a criminal a death sentence?

Answer 1

The death sentence is reserved largely for murderers, however, several states and the federal government have statutes that allow it for non-murder crimes. They include:



Although no one is on death row for the following crimes, capital offenses exist in state law for various other crimes:



Treason (Arkansas, Calif., Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Washington)

Aggravated kidnapping (Co., Idaho, Il., Missouri, Mont.)

Drug trafficking (Fl., Missouri)

Aircraft hijacking (Ga., Mo.)

Placing a bomb near a bus terminal (Mo.)

Espionage (New Mexico)

Aggravated assault by incarcerated, persistent felons, or murderers (Mont.)



Federal capital statutes for non-murder crimes (no one on death row)



Espionage (18 U.S.C. 794)

Treason. (18 U.S.C. 2381)

Trafficking in large quantities of drugs (18 U.S.C. 3591(b))

Attempting, authorizing or advising the killing of any officer, juror,or witness in cases involving a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, regardless of whether such killing actually occurs. (18 U.S.C. 3591(b)(2))



BTW, the SCOTUS just recently ruled that the death penalty for the rape of an adult was "grossly disproportionate" and an "excessive punishment," and hence was unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. The Court looked at the relatively few states that allowed the death penalty for rape and the few death sentences that had been handed down.



Some states passed new laws allowing the death penalty for the rape of a child. In 2007, the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Patrick Kennedy for the rape of his step-daughter, STATE OF LOUISIANA v. PATRICK KENNEDY (No. 05-KA-1981, May 22, 2007). Kennedy was convicted in 2003. However, Louisiana's law was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 25, 2008. See Kennedy v. Louisiana for more information. This decision also held that the death penalty would be disproportionate for any offense against an individual that did not involve death of the victim

Answer 2

Mostly murder, but it doesn't happen enough. A spy can be sentenced to death for conspiracy.



I think the following should qualify for a death sentenced (and not that lethal injection crap)

1. Murder

2. Attempt Murder-that includes shooting or using any other weapons against someone in an robery-not if you are the victim fighting back.

3. Arm Robbery (2nd offense)

4. Being a gang member (yup, being involved should be enough to die)

5. Rape

Answer 3

Laws vary from one state to another. Some states have no death penalty, others have it only for death, or only for death of a police offier, or only when two or more people are killed, etc. Ending a sentence with a redundant preposition is punishable by death in some states, so be careful.

Answer 4

Raping



read this

http://crime.about.com/b/2006/03/30/state-okays-death-penalty-for-repeat-child-rapists.htm

Answer 5

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Answer 6

There are many crimes that are subject to the death penalty. They do vary state to state.



Most are considered heinous acts, (the most gruesome and/or premeditated murders,) contract killing, etc. Also, aggravate rape, aggravated/extortionate kidnapping, mass murder/serial murder, child rape/murder, etc.



And many, more than 60, federal crimes are subject to capital punishment. Crimes such as, terrorism, treason, espionage.

Answer 7

only in certain states in the usa in arab countries and few other places u can be killed for treason betraying the queen of england being a spy rapist or serial killer just depends in dubai a women can be killed for cheating on her husband