Is the Electric Chair Humane

A detailed Summary of Is the Electric Chair Humane

Is the electric chair a cruel and inhumane way to punish criminals for the crimes they have committed in the past? This is the huge controversy that has been stirring up in Florida news lately. The electric chair has proven to have malfunctions and is not killing people instantly. The criminals have been feeling pain from the evidence that has been found.

Recently the electric chair has been reconstructed. The original electric chair was made out of oak wood in 1923. The new electric chair is also made out of oak wood. The only thing new about the chair is the wood. The electric current running through it is received by the same apparatus as before. The inmates constructed the first one and the most recent one by the Corrections Department "Newly-constructed Electric Chair 9 Jun. 1999." Immediate Release. Online. America Online. 25 July 1999.

The electric chair was first designed in the late 1800's. The electric chair was found by accident. It was the beginning of the electrical era and Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse were fighting over the control of electrical utilities. Edison designed the DC current of electricity while Westinghouse developed the AC current. Edison proved is was safer by showing that the AC current c

an cause electrocutions. New York state felt that the death by electrocution was more humane than hanging and developed the electric chair which was powered by the Westinghouse AC generator "History of the Electric Chair" www.theelectricchair.com. Online. America Online. 27 July 1999

Besides having to die, the life of an inmate on death row is far from pleasant. They have a lot of restrictions and rules. They eat only three meals a day and visitors are only allowed on weekends from 9am to 3pm. They are allowed showers every other day and are counted every hour to make sure no one is missing. They can receive mail only on weekdays and may have non-cable, black and white television snacks, cigarettes and radios. It only costs about $55.14 per day to house an inmate on Death Row "Newly-constructed Electric Chair 9 Jun. 1999." Immediate Release. Online. America Online. 25 July 1999.

Unfortunately that is not the only case, a lot of mishaps occur with "Old Sparky" in the state of Florida. Another case that has been controversial was the execution of Pedro Medina. When the electricity was pumped into his body flames exploded from his head. This was one of the main factors Florida decided to make a new electric chair. The chair seems so brutal especially when you hear stories that the guards have to use sledgehammers to break the joints of the deceased to remove them from the chair because their joints fuse together from the shock. Sugg, John F. "Witnessing a Time to Kill." Orlando Weekly 15-2

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Category: Politics