Samantha Waugh

Behind the Scenes of the Death Penalty OR Silent Killer That is Not so Silent: the lethal injection approach to the death penalty

Started Feb. 7, 2022

Abstract or project description

Samantha wrote the summary for her paper, and we edited it together. It is a still a working summary (it may change as she continues to write her paper).

Summary: In the media, the death penalty is often portrayed as justice for the people of the United States of America; criminals who have committed terrible crimes are finally receiving the punishment that they deserve. The death penalty execution, specifically the lethal injection modality, is often depicted as a quick and fairly painless process, but this is definitely not the case on Death Row. This paper will focus on three aspects of the lethal injection modality which can be concerning for its proper execution and moral existence. States that implement the death penalty often uses unqualified executioners, import illegal drugs and conceal information about the executions from the public. These three “things” often lead to botched executions and extremely painful deaths. This case study-supported research will highlight the aspects of the lethal injection approach and emphasize the silent injustices that are often difficult to uncover and witness by the public eye.