The Death Penalty: An International View

Abstract: This research explores the use and non‐use of capital punishment in various regions of the world. This is a descriptive analysis of the ultimate penal policy that any nation can give in its operation and administration of justice. In 1965 Patrick published his research on the death penalty. He found 86.6% of the nations he studied retained the death penalty. Amnesty International found 84.6% for 1985. The two figures are very close even though they are over 20 years apart. The research briefly explores the increases in the death row population in the United States (over 2,000 since 1967). Great Britain tried to reinstate the death penalty to solve its ‘terrorist problem’ in 1987. Spain executes by a ‘garrote’. The Soviet Union and some other Soviet aligned nations retain the penalty for the economic crimes of: counterfeiting, speculation in currency, stealing state property, and taking bribes by an official. France abolished the death penalty and the guillotine in 1971. They tried to reinstate the penalty in 1976 to deal with ‘major drug crimes’. Australia eliminated the penalty in 1985 when its Western region finally abolished it. South Africa did execute an average of 111 per year for the years 1980 to 1985. Japan retains the penalty for 17 crimes. Malaysia has recently executed several people for drug offences and arms violations. In Latin America, one‐half of the nations retain the penalty. The article concludes with recent events surrounding World War II Nazi Criminals recently sentenced to death in Israel and Russia.