Jamestown Executions

Throughout United States history, there have been numerous executions. One of the first executions was in Jamestown in 1608. George Kendall was a captain during this time in Jamestown. He was executed, because people believed that he was a spy for Spain. His execution was one of the first that can be accounted for in American history. Since this first incident, there have been countless more for two more centuries. The executions could be for even the most simple things, such as stealing an object from someone else. There was a break in time, in which most of the executions ceased, but it rose back into society once again. The types of executions during this time increased as well (The Death Penalty in America 1). However, there are some …show more content…
1). This means that everyone has the same rights as everyone else, and the law is the same to everyone else. It appears that executions are more prevalent in the Southern states than in the Northern ones. A recent study reveals that there have been 1087 executions since 2012. Between the years of 2013 and 2014, which is recent, there have been 32 executions (“Facts About the Death Penalty 3). In these executions, between 5 to 10% of those executed have a mental illness (Mental Illness and The Death Penalty 1). In the state of South Carolina, 40% of the population that are in line for an execution suffers from a mental disability as well. It probably is not as severe as those who are in prison, but it is still a fairly high percent of the population. From these numbers, schizophrenics and the mentally disabled are the most prevalent recipients the death penalty (“Mental Illness & Death Penalty 1). So, why does capital punishment of the mentally ill appear to be more prevalent in the Criminal Justice System of Southern