how is an witness to an execution in usa chosen?
460218
Normally it's 1)family members of the condemed, 2)family of the victim, 3)a couple of representitaves of the media, 4)the prosecutor, and lawyer of the condemed, 5)Other state officals involved in the case(this can sometimes include jurors).  \n\nNo one is just "picked" from the population to witness an execution, it's specfic people listed in the law of the state where the execution is being done(or federal law if a federal case).
451308
I heard that some executioners were, themselves, convicted criminals. They were allowed to remain alive as long as they executed other convicted criminals. I think the executioners that I heard this about were actually hangmen in the American West 1700-1900.
226177
There is an alternative oath in which the witness affirms, not swears, that his or her testimony will be truthful.  Obviously the 'so help me God' terminology is left off.
503231
General proceedure goes as follows:\n\n1.) Arrive at courthouse on time, present juror notice to officers at front door or jury managment office (depends on state your in)\n\n2.) You will be one of a large group that was sent notices to create a jury pool ( 40-60 people usually)\n\n3.) from the pool of prospective jurors 12 people will be chose at random as jury selection begins in several cases that day.\n (Note: Most U.S. Court systems have several trials set to begin jury selection on the same day and by creating a pool of people they can eliminate jury selection for several cases at once.)\n\n4.) If your in a selected group you will be taken to the courtroom and seated in jury box, after some proceduaral stuff the court will be turned over to the prosecution/defense councils to begin a brief introduction of what a case may be about and then on to specific questions directed at the prospective jury members)\n\n5.) JURY SELECTION - Generally each council (prosecution and defense) may 'strike a juror' (dismiss them) without cause or reason up up to 3 jurors (occasionally more), after using there 'strikes' the councils may request the dismissal of a juror memeber based on 'cause' (i.e. - the juror members answers to one or more questions asked of them indicates they are biased or have knowledge of the case that may cause them to pre-judge guilt or innocence) - in this case if the judge agrees the prospective juror is dismissed for cause. All jury memebers dismissed for cause or by 'strike' will return to the jury pool and become subject to selection for another jury and case until dismissed for the day by the court.\n\n6.) PLACEMENT ON A JURY - If the councils come to an agreement on 12 jurors and two alternates then the remaining potential jurors will be dismissed while the 14 chosen are retained. They will be given court instructions on silence, confidentiality and a host of other things and will either be sent home with instructions to return the following day for trial. They may possible have the trial the same day in which case the juror will hear the case and render decisions like any other jury. or in rare cases (capital crimes, murders etc. etc.) the jury may become sequestored, in this case they will be the guests of the courthouse/state at a  local motel or building provided with beds, food, bathrooms for 1 or more days until the trial is resolved. This later case is unpleasant because it will keep a jury memeber away from home, family and work until the job is completed.\n\nI hope this provided a VERY BASIC idea of the process and what to expect.
443968
It depends!! A couple of questions need to be asked.\n\n(a) are the witness statements provided as evidence for the prosecution? If so they are subject to disclosure to the defence; or are they witness statements for the defence??;\n\n(b) has there been consent by the witness for release of the statement? (i.e. if it is my witness statement and I want to send it to the press, that is my right);\n\n(c)The other clarification that is required, it released to whom? Are we talking about public release without consent or release to the defence with a prohibition on public release?; and \n\n(d) what jurisdiction are you in?? (i.e. the laws of release change in difference countries, states, provinces, etc).
704827
In some parts of the US, they have capital punishment. In those places, certain murderers are condemned to be executed by the state. There are two commonly cited reasons for this. First, public knowledge that a death penalty exists and can be administered is supposed to deter would-be murderers from killing.To say it in the easy, first-person way- If I know that I could get punished with death because I kill someone, that will theoretically make me hesitate to kill a person. Secondly, the people of some states are of the opinion that it is less costly to execute a convicted murderer than to keep that person in prison for life, but the calculations as to the cost-efficiency are not conclusive.  The expressed attitude seems to be that once a person has killed, that person cannot be trusted not to kill again and must be removed from society.\nIn actual practice, the families of murder victims frequently talk about seeking closure, saying that only the death of the murderer will bring them peace.  That seems like revenge to me. rather than a noble social aim.  It is pretty insensitive of me to even discuss such matters.  Can I declare myself morally superior to others and say that it is wrong to seek revenge? I have no such right.  I can only say that the desire for revenge is the driving force behind much of the violence in the world today. I can only say that if we could get away from the idea of revenge, many violent acts would not happen.\nI would like to give one last bit of food for thought: when humans act alone and independantly, we do not always take the time to fully justify our morality, but when we act as a society- by making laws- we need to have morals that we can explain.\nThank you for asking an important question.
608736
It is all due to appeals, which wind their way through both state and federal courts, all the way to the Supreme Court.  Then there are the motions for reconsideration, motions to file new evidence, and all of the resulting appeals and judicial reviews.\n\nAs a Canadian, I have never figured out the American judicial system, with its two (state and federal) tracks, interlocutory appeals upon interlocutory appeals, etc.  We haven't had capital punishment in decades, but back then our system didn't allow all of these interlocutory appeals at various stages.  The Court of Appeal would hear one appeal after everything was done at the trial level.  After the Court of Appeal was finished with it, it would proceed to a retrial or to the Supreme Court.  If the Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal, then it would hear the appeal and make its decision.  If the death sentence were upheld, the Prime Minister and his cabinet would make a decision on whether to commute the sentence.  Generally, that was it.  No eleventh hour calls to the Supreme Court.  A couple of times, the Minister of Justice asked for a new reference before the Supreme Court (Coffin and Truscott), but that was it.  And it never took 20, or even 5 years.\n\nI suppose that this was partially due to the fact that, even back then, there were significantly less death sentences handed out in Canada compared to the U.S.
943051
Since 1976  Amnesty USA has 3 recorded executions for Pennsylvania. \n\nAre you looking for a specific total ? Or from a certain date?\n\nAdded details from the  PA Depart of Corrections Website under history :\nFrom 1915 until 1962, there were a total of 350 persons executed in the chair, two of whom were women.
874451
Assuming that you are talking about here in the United States; In order for someone to be eligible for the death penalty they would have to kill at least one person and probably more. My question is: is their death by lethal injection any more cruel than what they did to their victims? So my answer is, they are getting better than they deserve when they are executed and it is too humane.
143518
Because apparently public execution is distasteful, so we have to lock em away and crowd the prisons.  I bet if we televised someone getting executed, there'd be a lot less repeat offenders.
234845
#1 (No BS Solution)\n\nDude gets convicted on 1 September and recieves the death penalty.\n\nCourt sends him to the clink and sets the execution date for 1 September of the next year.\n\nCourt appoints a RETIRED JUDGE to be the appeals Judge.  He has access to  his own courtroom 24/7.  (If he wants to get his retirement, he has to take these cases.  We could keep a roster of the old geezers).\n\nNO MORE DELAYS!!!\n\nDefense counsel can go nuts, claim what they want, whine cry, present evidence, call witnesses, whatever.\n\nGive the dude exclusive rights to pursue all the crap that now takes 20 years.\n\nIf he comes up with something, his personal Judge can now delay to consider, order another trial, overturn the verdict, whatever is fair.\n\n1 September, if there are no changes, execute him.\n\n1 Year, all the appeals you want, be fair, fry soon if you lose.
940189
witness statements? not sure i really get the question
371123
Federal law requires that a grand jury be selected at random from a fair cross section of thecommunity in the district or division in which the federal grand jury convenes. Thus, all citizens havean equal opportunity and obligation to serve.Pursuant to law, the names of prospective grand jurors are drawn at random from lists ofregistered voters or lists of actual voters, or other sources when necessary, under proceduresdesigned to ensure that all groups in the community will have a fair chance to serve. Those personswhose names have been drawn and who are not exempt or excused from service are summoned toappear for duty as grand jurors. When these persons appear before the court, the presiding judgemay consider any further requests to be excused. The judge will then direct the selection of 23qualified persons to become the members of the grand jury.
63055
Actually, death warrants contain a date which the warrant expires.  12:01 is a common time to schedule an execution, but not universal.\n\nThe idea that the execution is done at 12:01am to avoid a last minute reprieve is ridiculous - by the time the date of execution arrives the case has gone through years of appeals, petitions for post-conviction relief, and appeals for clemency and probably an application for a stay to the U.S.Supreme Court.  If there is going to be a stay granted - everyone from the state's Governor to the US Supreme Court is aware of the date and time of execution.  \n\nIt is true that early morning executions are preferred by wardens to keep protests to a minumum - but more preferred to keep the other prisoners in control - the prison is going to be quieter at 12:01am than when hundreds of inmates are likely to be agitated.
865208
New hampshire and Washington\n\nWashington, the prisoner may request hanging.\nNew Hampshire, if they can not administer lethal injection, then hanging is acceptable.\n\n---\nnote for below, Idaho and oklahoma have firing squad options.
699945
It depends on Who would do the arrest, Who would make the judgment and Who would execute the decisions!\n\nWhy an I asking? Because the results greatly depend on the above!
963792
Greetings!\n\nThe defendant becomes one as a result of the indictment.  Until that time, he is just an citizen not charged with (the indictment) a crime.\nIf you testify before a grand jury, your testimony more than likely resulted in part of his indictment.\n\n\nGood Luck