Blue Ridge Capital Hedge Fund

Blue Ridge Capital Hedge Fund

Blue Ridge Capital Hedge Fund

The debate about capital punishment has been around since laws have been formed. Capital crimes or those for which the penalty of death may be assigned can vary from state to state and has varied according to different decades. At one time stealing in the United States was considered a hanging offense, now it is not considered a capital crime.

Definition of Capital Crimes

Currently the death penalty is reserved for the most serious crimes. The definition of capital crimes stayed pretty much the same until 1977. In that year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a death sentence is cruel and unusual punishment for the crime of rape if the victim is not killed. Following this ruling, it has been a general understanding that the death penalty should not be imposed if a victim did not die. Treason and espionage are exceptions on the grounds that they are crimes against the country. Each state can decide if capital punishment is part of their court system. All of the dramatic tension and emotions associated with death row makes for interesting reading and nail-biting viewing. Books are interesting when dealing with this subject but films are the ideal medium to explore the ambiguity of the responses to a capital crime and the aftermath.