Unfair Death Penalty

The death penalty is a cruel punishment meant for monstrous criminals, but what if that criminal had an illness that they were not responsible for. First, the Eighth Amendment forbids the execution of mentally retarded and juveniles, but states nothing about the mentally ill (Benza). Next, the execution of the mentally ill serves no justice for either of the families involved. Also, through the years there have been several mentally ill inmates that have been executed, and showed signs of severe mental illness years before their crime (Greenhouse). Therefore, mentally ill inmates should not receive the death penalty, because the affects of the illness are uncontrollable and the death penalty brings no fairness to either of the families involved

Next, the legal system uses the “awareness test” to decide whether or not an inmate is mentally ill. It includes determining if the inmate understand why they are being persecuted, did the inmate have criminal intent, and if the inmate was able to control their behavior. Although many opponents believe the “awareness test” to be “subjected, biased, and even ludicrous.” Also, the severity of the mental illness, like schizophrenia, can alter the inmate’s brain and cause hallucinations that may lead them to commit the crime (Greenhouse). In summary, the legal system’s “awareness test” involves important questions to determine the presence of mental illness in the

Frist, like Panetti he also had a history of schizophrenia and other mental disorders before his committed crime. In addition to being mentally ill before his case he believed he was Jesus Christ, and also that he was being executed because people hated Jesus (Swig). In the same way Panetti believed he was executed for preaching the Gospel, Provenzo believed he was executed for being Jesus Christ, which violates the “awareness test”. Although Provenzo’s lawyers requested more time before his execution for him to be evaluated, it was not granted. As a result, Thomas Provenzo was executed on June 21, 2000 by the state of Florida (Swig). In summary, the cases of Panetti and Provenzo prove that the execution of mentally ill inmates is savage and inhumane, because they had no means of treatment and showed signs years before their